Raps eyed vs retired cop caught with 15 guns at Crame

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Police (PNP) is eyeing criminal complaints against a retired police officer who was caught with 15 firearms as he drove into Camp Crame on Tuesday afternoon.

PNP chief Gen. Benjamin Acorda Jr. said yesterday the probe of the man, who is in the custody of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, is underway to determine his criminal liabilities.

“We are looking into the other details, kung ano ‘yung mga violations na na-commit,” Acorda said in a news briefing.

Among the possible charges is violating the Omnibus Election Code for carrying firearms in public places during the imposition of the gun ban for the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections.

Acorda did not disclose the man’s identity except that he is a retired police officer.

Based on the results of their investigation, Acorda said the firearms, 11 pistols and four shotguns, were registered to a security agency.

Even if the firearms were found to be legal, PNP Firearms and Explosives director Brig. Gen. Paul Kenneth Lucas said the suspect and the security agency could still face charges for violating the gun ban as they did not secure a certificate of exemption from the Commission on Elections.

If the firearms are for safekeeping, Lucas said there should have been coordination with the PNP Supervisory Office for Supervisory and Investigation Agencies or SOSIA to transport the firearms.

He said police officers from SOSIA must also escort the firearms as these are transported to the security agency’s vault.