Man held for stealing gun from Manila Police District HQ

MANILA, Philippines — A 24-year old construction worker was arrested for stealing a policeman’s gun from the Manila Police District (MPD) headquarters on Saturday, police said yesterday.

Chief Inspector Eduardo Pama, MPD theft and robbery section chief, said Richard Bernardo was caught in a follow-up operation Sunday night after Police Officer 1 Frederick Asiodche found that his locker was forced open and his 9mm Beretta pistol missing.

Asiodche said Bernardo opened his locker and took his pistol in plain sight of his fellow police officers at around 4:30 p.m. Saturday.

Bernardo was then working on renovations in the office of a high-ranking official. 

He reportedly told Asiodche’s colleagues that the policeman ordered him to take the gun from the locker.

The construction worker told investigators he sold the gun to an alleged drug pusher, who was arrested in another follow-up operation. 

The suspected pusher denied the allegation.

Bernardo was charged with robbery.

In Quezon City, a man identified only as Black, reportedly involved in gunrunning, was killed by policemen in an alleged shootout before dawn yesterday.

Black and an unidentified companion were negotiating with policemen posing as buyers of loose firearms along Payatas Road when he pulled out a handgun at around 2 a.m.

He reportedly shot at the policemen as his companion escaped.