Navy probes missing guns

The Navy has ordered an investigation into the mysterious disappearance of some P7.2 million worth of sub machineguns intended for the Philippine Marines.

Navy chief Rear Adm. Guillermo Wong directed the Navy Inspector General to conduct an inquiry in connection with the missing Marine firearms, which included the 72 pieces of Heckler and Koch MP5 9-mm. assault rifles which have been reported missing from the Philippine National Police (PNP) armory since last year.

A Heckler and Koch MP5 9-mm. costs P105,000 each, said to be one of the sophisticated firearms used by the different elite police forces worldwide.

Both police and military personnel dismissed speculations that the firearms could have been placed in the possession of gunrunning syndicates or any shadow groups out to topple the government.

As early as November last year, reports circulated in the police intelligence community that an undetermined number of high-powered firearms were suspiciously stored at the PNP headquarters building at Camp Crame in Quezon City.

Upon learning about the issue, PNP chief Director General Panfilo Lacson tasked the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) to spearhead the investigation.

But Marines chief Maj. Gen. Librado Ladia denied having in their possession such sophisticated firearms.

Ladia admitted though that the Marines had intentions to acquire such guns but it did not push through because of the lack of a budget. The Marines chief said he is willing to face an investigation related to it if warranted.

Sources from the military revealed however that the firearms were delivered by its supplier, the Tri-Mark Ventures headed by president Ferdinand Trinidad.

Trinidad expressed doubt why the Marines would deny having acquired the armaments when the company turned over the high-powered guns last year to at least six representatives of the Marines. The guns were loaded in a red 4x4 Chevy Suburban.

The Tri-Mark Ventures management found out later that the company’s vault keeper and the lone police escort failed to ensure that the firearms were delivered to the Marines headquarters at Fort Bonifacio in Makati City. The group’s representatives proceeded to the Tri-Mark office in Makati City.