2 held for selling high-powered guns

MANILA, Philippines — Members of the Southern Police Disrict apprehended two men for allegedly selling high-powered firearms during an entrapment operation in Taguig last week.

Nichol John Jerusalem, 30, and Bruce de Leon, 32, were taken into police custody.

The suspects allegedly sold P180,000 worth of assault rifles, a 12-gauge shotgun, a grenade launcher, an MK2 fragmentation grenade and ammunition to a policeman who posed as a buyer in Barangay Katuparan, Taguig.

Police arrested Jerusalem. De Leon managed to escape, but was nabbed during a follow-up operation in Mandaluyong.

National Capital Region Police Office chief Maj. Gen. Vicente Danao Jr. lauded the confiscation of the unlicensed guns, which he said could be used by criminal rings in next year’s elections.