Monday, August 28, 2017

DCPO: Man who smuggled firearms into city a member of the NPA

From the Mindanao Times (Aug 28): DCPO: Man who smuggled firearms into city a member of the NPA

AUTHORITIES have identified a person of interest in the attempted smuggling of guns into the city based on the CCTV footage that linked him to the crime.
 
Davao City Police Office (DCPO) director, Sr. Supt. Alexander Tagum, said the person of interest has been known to be a member of the New People’s Army, which reportedly attempted to smuggle the guns into the city.

Earlier, authorities claimed that the guns were to be used by liquidation forces reminiscent of SPARU Units (Special Partisan Unit) which killed police, soldiers, government officials and anti-communists during the Marcos era.

According to Tagum, the police will be distributing a clear copy of the footage to help determine the identity of the alleged member of the NPA.

“The investigation is still ongoing,” Tagum said. “We received information where the guns are meant to be delivered so the police officers remain prepared to counter the plan.”

Police are waiting for the warrant of arrest to be issued against the person of interest, likely for violation of illegal possession of firearms or Republic Act 10591.

Found in one bag during a routine checkpoint in Barangay Lasang, Bunawan District earlier this month were seven caliber .45 pistols and one 9mm Ingram machine pistol.
 
Tagum said there was only one person who carried the bag with the guns. The firearms were not new as evidenced by the rust.

“These were already used before the inspection,” Tagum said.

Tagum added that the court will determine in 60 days if the evidence warrants an arrest since the case will be docketed under regular filing.
Earlier this month, passengers of a bus from Tacloban were held by police after one of the bags inspected at the Task Force Davao checkpoint yielded guns. Police said the perpetrator may have escaped after realizing that the police dogs detected the guns.
 

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