Pampanga: Police have arrested two gun-for-hire suspects and seized high-powered firearms in an operation in Pampanga province.
According to Philippines News Agency, Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) chief Maj. Gen. Nicolas Torre III announced that the suspects, identified by aliases Antonio and his cousin Ariel, were apprehended in Purok 5, Barangay Mapalad in Arayat town on Tuesday. 'Antonio' was found to have standing arrest warrants for usurpation of authority, illegal possession of firearms and ammunition, and a drug-related case.
During the operation, CIDG operatives recovered a fragmentation grenade, two caliber .45 pistols-one of which was equipped with a silencer-an MK-9 9MM sub-machine gun, several magazines, assorted ammunition, a police Identification Card bearing the name Maj. Antonio Oriendo Cerbito, a military Identification Card with the same name, and police and military uniforms from the suspects.
Investigation revealed that the suspects are not members of either the Philippine National Police or the Armed Forces of the Philippines. They will face charges for violations of Republic Act (RA) 10591, concerning the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act, and RA 9516, which pertains to illegal possession of explosives, in relation to the Omnibus Election Code and the gun ban for the midterm elections, as well as usurpation of authority.
The operation is part of the CIDG's intensified crackdown on loose firearms and criminal groups involved in gun-for-hire and gunrunning activities ahead of the midterm elections.
