P1M worth of guns seized in Danao City

CEBU, Philippines - Close to a million pesos worth of guns, gun parts, and gun manufacturing machines were confiscated by the police, who also arrested two brothers in an operation in Danao City.

Brothers Ariel Perez, 28, and Reil Perez, 34, were arrested after they were caught in the act of drilling parts of guns.

Senior Superintendent Cliffod Gairanod said they have intensified the campaign against loose firearms following a directive from Chief Superintendent Manuel Gaerlan, Police Regional Office-7 director, regarding the matter.

In fact, the recent operation was the second operation in Danao City for the past two months.

Gairanod said that on Wednesday last week, the Provincial Intelligence Branch conducted simultaneous operations in Barangays Cahumayan, Manlayag, and Suba in Danao City.

The operation resulted to the arrest of the Perez brothers in Barangay Cahumayan and the recovery of millions worth of guns, parts and gun-making equipments.

The police have recovered two KG9 submachine pistols; six unassembled caliber .45 pistols; two 9mm black widow; a cal. Revolver; 12 cal. 22 magnum revolver, several gun parts and gun making equipments.

Gairanod, in a press briefing, said not all barangays in Danao are involved in the gun-making trade.

He said people usually engage themselves in the business because they do not know any other jobs and they earn money out of selling guns.

For his part, Riel, a father of two, who drills parts of guns, said he could earn at least P300 a day from his job. He is only an elementary graduate.  He said his earnings, which go to the needs of his family, are sometimes not enough for their food as their children are growing up.

With his arrest, he said his family has nothing to eat. 

"Makakuwarta og P300 kada adlaw, mao g'yuy saligan sa among pamilya, bata pa mi mao say gibuhi sa ginikanan namo," said the older Perez.

He said this skill has been passed down from his parents to them.  Gairanod said it is difficult to make people stop the illegal trade, which is why he needs to strengthen the Police Community Relations Branch to educate them.

One thing that could help the gun manufacturers is to legalize the business, Gairanod said, adding it would not only help the locals but also Danao City.

"Mas maayo i-legalize sa LGU. The LGU should support and invest because it will support the people in Danao," Gairanod said.

But he said the move should be implemented carefully so that the guns would not go to the hands of the wrong people.

Meanwhile, Gaerlan lauded the CPPO for the successful operation in Danao City.

"I congratulate them for very good job and this is a big blow to illegal firearm manufacturing," he said.  (FREEMAN)