By Jennifer P. Rendon
Two suspected gunrunners were arrested in a police entrapment operation evening of April 26, 2021 in Jaro, Iloilo City.
Police identified the suspects as Osram Huertas, 64, of Barangay Simon Ledesma, Jaro, and Roger Jangayo, 54 of Barangag Calumpang, Molo district.
Members of the Iloilo City Police Office – City Intelligence Unit (ICPO-CIU) and Jaro Police Station nabbed the duo after allegedly selling a caliber .45 pistol for P16,000.
The trade happened at Jaro Plaza around 5:45 p.m. Monday.
Lieutenant Colonel Rene Obregon, ICPO-CIU chief, said that they’ve been monitoring the duo’s operation for some time already.
Aside from the handgun, police also seized three magazines, the P15,000 buy bust money, and cash of 31,860 from the suspects’ possession.
The suspects are detained and will be charged for violation of Republic Act 10591 or (Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act).
Five days before their arrest, three gunrunners were also arrested in separate entrapment operations in Jaro district.
The ICPO-CIU team arrested the first two suspects at Barangay Buhang for selling a handgun for P22,000.
A follow-up operation at the same place led to the arrest of another suspect who also sold a caliber .45 pistol for P20,000 to a police undercover agent.
Following the arrests made on gun peddlers, Colonel Uldarico Garbanzos, Iloilo City police chief, vowed a relentless campaign against loose firearms to maintain the peace and order situation of Iloilo City.
He again urged the public who own and possess unlicensed firearms to surrender voluntarily to the nearest police stations or barangay.
