Gunrunning flourishes as poll season starts

BAGUIO CITY, Philippines – With the start of election season, the multimillion-peso underground gunrunning industry up north is perking up.

A gun dealer and retired policeman has been asking around for a supplier of a caliber 30 machine gun, supposedly for an Ilocos Norte politician.

Another gun dealer said illegal guns are in, especially automatic rifles. Politicians want everything secret, he added.

The 45-year-old gunrunner said from a “very slow business” in the past year, gun-running is now on the upswing.

An unlicensed assault standard Elisco brand Armalite rifle (M16, 5.56 caliber) has gone up in price, as has a US brand standard Colt M16 rifle.

The cost of the now rare rifle has gone up to P100,000 or more, especially for the shorter baby M16, which barrel is shorter by 6 inches.

A week ago, a re-electionist from the Cordillera region purchased an unlicensed Israel-made Ghalil rifle (5.56mm) from the black market for P120,000.

Months ago, a Pangasinan mayoralty candidate reportedly purchased an illegally shipped caliber 30 machine gun from Mindanao.

Several months ago also, an Abra politician acquired 10 baby Armalites from different sources.

Another gunrunner said the black market for guns is booming because purchase is swift and cannot be traced.

A Norinco-brand M4 (M16 variant) costs P75,000 from a licensed gun dealer or store.

The license will cost around P8,000 to process and could take over a month.

A Czech-made CZ858 (AK 47 variant) costs P60,000 from licensed gun stores and over a month to bring it out from gun dealers who have become stricter about purchasing and possession rules.

Prices in the underground market have not only gone up, but supply is running low.