Junkshop worker finds 24 firearms, ammo in steel cabinet

One of the three steel cabinets bought by a junk shop in Marikina City turned out to contain at least 24 firearms and assorted ammunition.

Marikina City police chief Superintendent Sotero Ramos Jr. said junkshop worker Marvin Villacruel was surprised when he discovered the cache of firearms after forcing open one of the steel cabinets they purchased from a footwear company.

Ramos said the recovered firearms are old and defective, but “a little polishing and repair they could be used again.”

Initial investigation showed that a certain Alma Santos, 34, manager of the Marikina Footwear cooperative, ordered employees to dispose of steel cabinets found at the second floor of their newly-rented building in Barangay San Roque.

Santos’ employees contacted a nearby junk shop, which resulted in the sale of the three steel cabinets at P20 per kilo. At the junk shop, Villacruel found 20 caliber .38 revolvers, three 12-gauge shotguns, a .22-caliber rifle and assorted ammunition.

Villacruel immediately reported his discovery to Senior Inspector Renato Castillo of the police precinct in Barangay Sto. Nino.

In his report, Castillo said the building rented by the footwear cooperative was formerly occupied by the Round the Clock Security Agency.

Ramos said he will coordinate with the Firearms and Explosive Division (FED) in Camp Crame to determine what to do with the recovered firearms and ammunition. He also commended Villacruel for turning over the firearms to the proper authority.