Suspected gunrunners nabbed in Tondo

Police operatives nabbed two persons and seized three handguns and ammunition in an operation against loose firearms last night in Tondo, Manila.

The arrest of the suspects identified as Ludy Nuñez, 51; and Antonio Denela, 56, was covered by search warrants issued by Judge Antonio Eugenio Jr. of Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 24.

Seized from the suspects were two caliber .38 snub nose revolvers, a caliber .357 revolver and six caliber .38 bullets.

Prior to last night’s operation, operatives of the Western Metro Manila Criminal Investigation and Detection Team (WMMCIDT) arrested Rolendo Razo, 39, on Sept. 20 for illegal possession of a caliber .38 revolver. During tactical interrogation, Razo revealed that he bought the gun from Nuñez.

WMMCIDT chief Superintendent Nelson Yabut immediately formed a surveillance team to monitor the activities of Nuñez. After positive verification of the suspect’s illegal activities, a search warrant was secured.

At around 11 p.m. last night, Yabut and his men, together with barangay officials, swooped down on the suspect’s residence and recovered two handguns. A police asset then pointed to a sari-sari store across the neighborhood where Nuñez allegedly transacts her illegal business of gunrunning.

During the search police recovered another handgun and arrested Denela, the store’s caretaker. Denela told police the gun will be redeemed by a buyer in exchange for a case of beer.

Yabut said Nuñez could be the source of loose firearms used by criminals in the city. Most crimes in Manila are perpetrated by criminals bearing unlicensed firearms, he added.

The operation against loose firearms is part of the CIDG’s flagship project dubbed "Oplan Paglalansag" which aims to recover and seize the weapons of crime groups.