FEO: Drug lord’s guns have expired licenses

MANILA, Philippines - Three of five firearms seized from a convicted drug lord in the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) in Muntinlupa City have expired licenses, according to a police reports.

The STAR gathered that Firearms and Explosives Office (FEO) records show that the licenses of a Taurus 9mm pistol registered to Vicente Alindada Jr. expired on March 31, 2011; a Browning 9mm pistol in Avelino Nicanor’s name expired on Nov. 6, 1999 and Carlitos Tiquia’s caliber 5.56 Bushmaster rifle expired on Dec. 1, 2013.

These details are part of a report submitted by FEO director Chief Superintendent Virgilio Lazo to Philippine National Police officer-in-charge Deputy Director General Leonardo Espina. The National Bureau of Investigation requested the FEO to check the records of five firearms confiscated from Peter Co’s luxurious villa in the NBP’s maximum security compound.

A .22 caliber pistol seized from Co is registered to Guimaras Rep. Joaquin Nava and its license will expire next year. The fifth firearm has no record with the FEO.

Tiquia ran and lost in the Valenzuela City congressional race; Alindada is a barangay councilman in Caloocan while Nicanor is reportedly a government employee.

Sources said the FEO is set to summon the registered owners of the firearms to explain why the guns ended up with Co.

“They need to explain about their guns. Republic Act 10591 or the new gun control is very strict and these gun owners can be barred from having firearms if they fail” to give a good explanation, the source told The STAR.

Another source said the guns were never reported as lost or missing.