Cop behind bogus gun permits scam arrested

Agents of the Firearms and Explosives Division (FED) of the Philippine National Police arrested yesterday a policeman for allegedly masterminding the sale and distribution of tampered and forged gun licenses and permits to carry the guns outside of residences.

Police identified the suspect as Police Officer 3 Crisanto Siddayao, detailed with the National Capital Regional Police Office and formerly assigned with the FED Computer Office at Camp Crame.

Siddayao's operation was exposed last Sunday when joint FED and Western Police District operatives raided his house at 1460-B Librado Avelino St., Pandacan and seized several tampered gun permits and licenses. Siddayao managed to elude arrest during the raid. He was arrested yesterday by FED agents at his NCRPO office.

Taken from Siddayao's house were 56 fake firearms license cards, 236 blank firearm license cards, 15 forged Permits to Carry Firearms Outside of Residence (PTCFORs) and 49 tampered gun license cards already laminated and ready for distribution.

Police investigation showed that Siddayao's syndicate reportedly sells the forged and tampered license cards to interested buyers for as much as P8,000 each which is almost four times the price of authentic ones. Tampered PTCFORs meanwhile are reportedly sold by Siddayao for P6,000 each, way above the normal price of P2,000.

Siddayao is now facing charges for falsification of public documents at the Manila City Prosecutor's Office.

Administrative charges were also lodged against him by the PNP Internal Affairs Service.

Meanwhile, FED operatives are also hunting down Siddayao's alleged cohorts believed to be Camp Crame-based officers. Police are also checking the identities of Siddayao's clients for possible criminal liability.

PNP chief Deputy Director General Panfilo Lacson earlier took on the responsibility of personally approving PTCFORs amid reports of corruption at the FED.