Why are .38-cal. guns always recovered from 'nanlaban' suspects? PNP chief answers

Why are .38-caliber guns seemingly always recovered from drug suspects killed in firefights that erupt during police operations?

GMA News anchor Jessica Soho raised the question before Philippine National Police (PNP) Dir. Gen. Oscar Albayalde in a live interview on "State of the Nation" on Thursday.

"Talaga bang .38 caliber palagi ang ginagamit ng mga nanlalaban?" she asked.

"Hindi naman lahat, Jessica," Albayalde responded, adding that while there are a lot of .38-caliber weapons recovered, there are also guns of other caliber recovered.

In 2016, the National Union of Peoples' Lawyers expressed suspicion over similar firearms recovered from slain drug suspects.

When the possibility was raised that some of the guns may be "recycled" and planted, Albayalde dismissed the notion.

"Remember hindi mo puwedeng i-recycle ang baril na nagamit mo as evidence, dahil sina-submit 'yan sa SOCO (scene of the crime operatives) at 'yan ay mayroong pirma at 'yan ay mayroong tag," he said.

But Albayalde admitted that .38-caliber weapons in the Philippines are "very common."

"Sa probinsya, sa Cebu meron tayong pagawaan, marami tayong loose firearms. At 'yan ang pinakamura na puwede mong bilhin kasi sa atin. 'Yung price of P500 or P1,000 kasi makakabili ka talaga sa atin ng .38. Napakadali," he said, especially compared to other caliber weapons where locally-made guns are not widely available.

Albayalde was also asked about the profile of drug dealers killed, who are always seemingly street-level operators.

He noted that policemen in stations are considered "territorial units," saying they were not expected to encounter "high-value targets."

"Remember 'yun pong high-value targets they cross boundaries," he said, adding that local police can't follow these targets across other areas.

"Hindi mo puwedeng basta-basta i-follow up." —JST, GMA News