Crame employee arrested for ‘fixing’ gun license renewal

A civilian employee of the Firearms and Explosives Division (FED) of the Philippine National Police was arrested yesterday after he was caught facilitating the issuance of gun licenses for a fee.

Civil Security Group (CSG) director Chief Superintendent Leonardo Dionisio identified the suspect as Sol Bargan, 48, a resident of Cubao, Quezon City and the designated secretary for the chief of FED’s firearm licensing branch.

Dionisio said Bargan faces charges of falsification of documents and violation of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices before the Quezon City Prosecutor’s Office.

She also faces dismissal for involvement in the illegal activity.

The CSG chief said Bargan was arrested at around 3 p.m. during an entrapment conducted inside the FED building at Camp Crame in Quezon City. She received P500 in marked money from an asset posing as an applicant for a firearm license renewal.

"Our asset approached Bargan who received the application for the renewal of a gun license. She then offered to facilitate the renewal for P500," Dionisio said.

FED deputy chief Senior Superintendent Napoleon Estilles said Bargan was caught handing over a "ready-made" Gun Safety Seminar Certificate to the applicant even if he did not actually attend the seminar.

Dionisio said an entrapment was set up after a concerned citizen sent a text message to PNP 2920.

"From the text message, we started conducting investigation. We found out that Bargan was indeed offering her services for a fee," he said.

Dionisio said Bargan’s arrest should serve as a lesson to FED employees.

"This practice must be stopped," he said.