(Photo courtesy of CIDG)
MANILA – A police officer assigned in Central Luzon was arrested for alleged involvement in gunrunning activities in Metro Manila, the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) said on Wednesday.
CIDG chief, Maj. Gen. Albert Ignatius Ferro identified the suspect as Lt. Roy Bravo, 46, assigned at the Bocaue Municipal Police Station (MPS), who was arrested by CIDG members after offering to sell a caliber 9mm submachine gun worth PHP75,000 to an undercover agent in a buy-bust operation at a gasoline station along Epifanio de los Santos Avenue (Edsa) corner Danlig St, Makati City at around 5:45 p.m. Tuesday.
Seized from the suspect were one Intratec caliber 9mm submachine gun, assembly magazine; suppressor/silencer, one Pietro Beretta caliber 9mm pistol, assembly magazine for caliber 9mm Pietro Beretta pistol, 14 rounds of caliber 9mm ammunition, a PNP ID, a pair of PNP field service uniform and his vehicle with plate number NDK 6153.
Ferro said the operation was based on the information received by the CIDG that a certain “Bravo Roric” is reportedly engaged in gunrunning activities through online transactions while the delivery of the illegal firearms with accessories is done by the suspect himself.
The operating team was unaware that the suspect is a police officer until his real identity was revealed during the inventory of the seized items, including his PNP ID and personal belongings.
Bravo entered the service in September 1998 and was promoted to police lieutenant via lateral commission in March 2019. He was assigned to various PNP units particularly in Maritime Group, Highway Patrol Group, PRO 3 Regional Headquarters, Bataan Police Provincial Office (PPO), and Bulacan PPO.
The suspect will be facing an administrative case and a complaint for violation of Republic Act 10591 (Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act).
“Let this be a reminder to our fellow police officers, we swore to serve and protect the country and its citizens, and one cannot be called guardians of peace and security if we, the enforcers of the law are the ones who destroy that with our illegal activities,” Ferro said. (PNA)
