Bacolod cop nabbed for gunrunning

- Advertisement -

A BACOLOD City policeman was arrested after selling a loose firearm to a fellow cop posing as a buyer during an entrapment operation in the city last Sunday, police reported yesterday.

The PNP Integrity Monitoring and Enforcement Group, which led the operation, identified the arrested cop as Staff Sgt. Gerwin Arevalo Catolico, assigned with the Bacolod City police station.

Catolico was arrested by operatives of IMEG in collaboration with personnel of the PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group and Western Visayas PNP shortly after he handed an undocumented cal. 45 pistol to the buyer at around 10:40 a.m. in Barangay Estafania in exchange for money.

- Advertisement -

Catolico is said to be a “primary target” of the Case Operational Plan “Pistola” of the IMEG Visayas Field unit for his alleged involvement in the selling of unlicensed firearms in Negros Occidental and nearby areas.

Seized from his possession were the cal. 45 pistol he sold to the buyer, P12,000 in marked money, two magazines for a cal. 45 pistol, and a mobile phone.

Catolico is facing charges for violation of Republic Act 10591 or the “Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act,” and election gun ban under the Omnibus Election Code.

PNP chief Gen. Dionardo Carlos instructed IMEG personnel to step up operations against those selling loose firearms that he said are instruments in committing crimes.

Carlos also asked IMEG, headed by Brig. Gen. Oliver Enmodias, to go after any police personnel putting the image of the police force in a bad light. He said IMEG should show no leniency toward erring policemen.

Author

- Advertisement -

Share post: