QC cop charged for violating gun ban

MANILA, Philippines - A police officer who was arrested in Malabon City Thursday night has been charged for violating the election gun ban, police said yesterday.

Police Officer 1 Thomas Janssen Tulio of the Quezon City Police District Station 5 was charged before the Malabon prosecutor’s office, which set bail at P12,000. 

Senior Inspector Arlito Franco of the Malabon police said Tulio was arrested at around 11:30 p.m. in Barangay Potrero after he refused to surrender his firearm to police officers conducting “Oplan Sita,” checking gun owners’ papers.

Tulio, who was off-duty at the time of his arrest, reportedly failed to present proper documents showing his exemption from the gun ban.

Investigators found that a taxi boarded by Tulio’s wife had been flagged down after the driver entered a one-way street. Moments later, Tulio – clad in civilian clothes and reportedly under the influence of liquor – arrived on a motorcycle and angrily confronted the taxi driver.

Police officers tried to accost Tulio after they noticed a gun tucked in a holder at his waistband. Tulio, however, refused to surrender his gun and shouted at the police officers not to meddle as it was an argument between him and his wife.

This prompted SPO1 Raymundo Sablaon to disarm Tulio and place him under arrest. Recovered from the suspect was his Beretta 9mm service firearm and a steel magazine with 11 bullets.