Two active police officers assigned to the Caloocan City Police Station were arrested in a buy-bust operation after they allegedly sold firearms to an undercover operative, authorities said Thursday. Courtesy of NCRPO via Karen de Guzman, ABS-CBN News
MANILA — The Philippine National Police (PNP) is expanding its probe into the arrest of two Caloocan police officers accused of illegally selling firearms, amid suspicions they may be linked to a broader criminal network.
PNP chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said investigators have been ordered to conduct a thorough background check on the two policemen and determine whether other active or former police personnel were involved in the alleged operation.
2 Caloocan cops arrested over alleged illegal firearms sale
“There is no place in the PNP for personnel who abuse their authority or violate the law. If you choose to engage in criminal acts, you will be investigated, arrested, and prosecuted,” Nartatez said in a statement.
The two officers, assigned to the Caloocan City Police Station, were arrested during a buy-bust operation inside a compound in Barangay 5 on Thursday after allegedly selling firearms to an undercover operative following weeks of intelligence monitoring.
Authorities identified the suspects as a 32-year-old police staff sergeant and a 39-year-old police master sergeant.
Aside from identifying possible accomplices, investigators are also looking into the motive behind the alleged gun sale, including whether the recovered firearms were intended for use in violent crimes or supplied to criminal groups.
“Our internal cleansing program will continue without fear or favor, and we will hold every erring police officer fully accountable. In this particular case, we are checking if these arrested personnel are part of a larger criminal group,” Nartatez said.
The PNP chief has also ordered the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) to subject all seized firearms to ballistic examination to determine if they had been used in previous shooting incidents and to trace their origin and ownership.
Nartatez said the two officers would face criminal and administrative complaints, including dismissal from the police service.
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