NPA taunts police force in Benguet as Duterte orders ban on over-the-counter sales of bullets to stop easy access for rebels

From Business World (May 22): NPA taunts police force in Benguet as Duterte orders ban on over-the-counter sales of bullets to stop easy access for rebels

MEMBERS of the communist New People’s Army (NPA) in Benguet claim that last week’s ‘bloodless raid’ on a police sub-station in Buguias town, which police say did not happen, proves its growing number in the province and the authorities’ incompetence.

“This is proof that the New People’s Army is growing ever stronger,” said the commander of the NPA in Benguet, known only as ‘Ka Greg,’ but did not say how many rebels are presently under his command.

The NPA claims that the Jennifer Cariño Command-NPA-Benguet barged into the police sub-station on Tuesday evening and took a pistol, ammunition magazines, a hand grenade, two radios and uniforms.

The police said it was merely a “robbery with intimidation.”

BULLET SALES

 Meanwhile, President Rodrigo R. Duterte announced in Davao City Friday that he will no longer allow gun shops to sell bullets over the counter to prevent the NPA from easily purchasing ammunition.

Speaking before the firearms and ammunition dealers during the AFAD Defense and Sporting Arms Show, Mr. Duterte said guidelines will be drafted and reviewed by the incoming Interior and Local Government secretary, current Armed Forces of the Philippines chief Eduardo M. Año.

At the same time, Mr. Duterte assured the dealers that they will come up with reasonable ground rules so that gun shops will not go out of business.

http://www.bworldonline.com/content.php?section=Nation&title=npa-taunts-police-force-in-benguet-as-duterte-orders-ban-on-over-the-counter-sales-of-bullets-to-stop-easy-access-for-rebels&id=145522