By Jennifer P. Rendon
Police arrested three persons for alleged gunrunning in two separate occasions on April 21, 2021 in Jaro, Iloilo City.
Iloilo City Police Office (ICPO) operatives nabbed Bonnie Celendro, 52, a resident of Barangay Ayaman Cabatuan, Iloilo; Elmer Moriente, 42, of Barangay Tastasan, Buenavista Guimaras; and Zaldy Sumalde, 61, of Roxas St., San Miguel, Iloilo.
They were collared in a span of three hours starting off with the arrest of Celendro and Moriente at Barangay Buhang around 3:50 p.m. of Wednesday.
Lieutenant Colonel Rene Obregon, Jr., ICPO Intelligence Unit chief, said that police undercover agents transacted with Celendro for the purchase of a gun worth P22,000.
The transaction happened at a car shop being rented by Celendro. Moriente was allegedly caught fixing an unlicensed gun inside the carshop.
Celendro claimed that he just acted as a middleman for his martial arts student who was looking for a firearm. He claimed to have known someone who sells gun.
Police recovered from Celendro and Moriente caliber .45 pistols (Danao-made), eight magazines, and 127 ammunition.
The cops later learned that the two arrested suspects have a friend who also traded unlicensed firearms.
Samulde was subsequently arrested in an entrapment operation at around 7:00 p.m., also at Barangay Buhang.
Sumalde sold to police operatives another Danao-made .45 caliber pistol in exchange for P20,000. An empty magazine was also recovered from the subject.
A case for violation of Republic Act 10591 (Comprehensive Law on Firearms and Ammunitions) will be filed against the suspects.
Meanwhile, Colonel Uldarico Garbanzos, Iloilo City police chief, said they would not cease in their campaign against loose firearms to maintain the peace and order situation of Iloilo City.
He also urged the public who own and possess unlicensed firearms to surrender voluntarily to the nearest police stations or barangay.
