Gunrunning ring busted

A gunrunning ring operating in the cities of Marikina, Caloocan and Pasay was busted early this week by elements of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and the Philippine Air Force with the arrest of three suspects and the seizure of assorted guns.

NBI Director Reynaldo Wycoco identified the arrested suspects as Ramon Villarca, 48, of 107 San Jose Street, Maypajo, Caloocan City; Mario Matic, 62, of 2741 Taft Avenue, Pasay City; and Vic Gracia, 50, of Marikina Heights, Marikina City.

According to an investigation conducted by the NBI, the suspects were the suppliers of firearms for armed robbery groups operating in Metro Manila.

In addition, an intelligence report by the PAF 300th Intelligence and Security Group revealed that the guns being used by communist rebels operating in Central Luzon were also sourced from the suspects.

With the information, NBI and PAF elements successively raided the houses of the three suspects early this week. Seized from the houses were five caliber .45 pistols, an M-16 rifle, a 9mm pistol, six shotguns, seven caliber .38 revolvers and various rounds of ammunition.

Wycoco said that the raids conducted by the NBI and the PAF were in line with the government’s drive against the illegal gun trade.

Charges of illegal possession of firearms were filed by the NBI against the suspects. Matic and Gracia are already out on bail while Villarca is still detained at the NBI jail.

The NBI is now coordinating with the Department of National Defense to determine if some of the guns seized during the raids were stolen from soldiers. – Mike Frialde