Marikina cop sacked for gunrunning

MANILA, Philippines — A policeman assigned in Marikina City was sacked from his post for allegedly moonlighting as a gunrunner, the Eastern Police District (EPD) reported yesterday.

EPD director Brig. Gen Wilson Asueta has ordered the administrative relief of Cpl. Carmelo Frias, who was disarmed and reassigned to the personnel holding and accounting unit of the Marikina police.

“We initiated a pre-charge investigation,” Asueta said in a text message.

Frias’ administrative relief came after he was identified by the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) as a member of a gunrunning syndicate.

He was spotted by CIDG agents with his cohorts at the Armscor firing range in Barangay Fortune in Marikina at around 1:25 p.m. on June 21.

CIDG director Maj. Gen. Romeo Caramat Jr. said Frias and the suspects were under surveillance due to reports they were illegally selling firearms and ammunition.

The syndicate operates in Rizal and nearby cities, negotiating with clients using social media platforms, Caramat said in a statement.

Acting on the information, the CIDG set up an entrapment operation against Frias and the suspects.

The policeman’s alleged cohorts – namely Jeffrey Dimaano, 30, and Joey Espana, 47 – were arrested after they received P45,000 in marked money from an undercover CIDG officer.

Frias, however, managed to escape.

Seized from the suspects were a 9mm Uzi pistol, a 9mm pistol, 32 rounds of ammunition, two cell phones and a motorcycle.

Frias and the other suspects were charged with violating Republic Act 10591, the Comprehensive Law on Firearms and Ammunition.