(PNP photo)
MANILA – Police arrested a man with several unlicensed guns and ammunition and seized from him a large stash of marijuana during a raid in his house in Malolos, Bulacan Thursday.
In a press conference Friday at Camp Crame, Philippine National Police chief Gen. Guillermo Eleazar said Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) operatives swooped down on the house of Jason King, 46, in Barangay Longos.
Eleazar instructed police to uncover possible links of the suspect with other criminal activities including partisan armed groups.
“We will dig deeper on this but sinasabi nga natin (what we are saying is) he was arrested already before and how come until now, he still has this cache of firearms issued under his name. We are still continuing conducting case buildup operation for the eventual arrest of other cohorts of him based on evidence,” he said.
Confiscated during the raid were M16 assault rifle, a shotgun, two caliber .22 rifles, a 9mm submachine gun, eight handguns of different caliber, and assorted magazine assemblies with ammunition.
The search yielded 11 kilograms of dried marijuana estimated to be worth PHP2,240,800.
“We have policies on this and the criminal cases filed against them are valid reason for us to request revocation of these firearms. We will ask for revocation, somehow that will limit those persons who will be given permits to own and possess firearms,” Eleazar said.
"Acting swiftly and decisively on the instructions of DILG Secretary Eduardo Año to intensify police operations against partisan armed groups and loose firearms ahead of the election season," he said.
The suspect will be charged with violation of Republic Act 10591 for illegal possession of firearms and violation of RA 9165 for possession of illegal drugs.
Eleazar said King has a previous arrest record in Quezon City back in June 2019 with younger brother Bryan, a TNVS driver, in a buy-bust involving 112 grams of high-grade Kush marijuana. The case, however, has been dismissed. (PNA)
