Alleged illegal gunsmith nabbed in Quezon

Authorities have arrested a gunsmith in Quezon for his alleged illegal manufacture of firearms that were reportedly used by some of his clients in committing crimes.

According to John Consulta’s exclusive report on “24 Oras” on Thursday, police also confiscated a .38 caliber handgun, a .45 caliber firearm, and a “sumpak” or improvised firearm from the suspect.

The Police Regional Office (PRO) 4A said they carried out the operation against the 42-year-old gunsmith after they arrested some people who were the gunsmith’s clients.

“Meron nang shooting incidents dito sa Bondoc Peninsula sa Quezon. May mga nahuli tayong suspects and nakita natin yung mga ginagamit nila firearm is itong sumpak. Meron din tayong firearm na nahuli sa kanila na walang serial number. Dun natin nalaman na ang gumagawa nito is local,” said Police Brigadier General Paul Kenneth Lucas, PRO 4A regional director.

(There were previous shooting incidents here in the Bondoc Peninsula in Quezon. We arrested some suspects and found that they use sumpak firearms. We also recovered a firearm with no serial number. That’s how we learned that these weapons were locally made.)

According to the PRO 4A, the sumpak was sold from P1,200 to P2,000. The same rate was applied for repairing firearms, some of which were allegedly used by the gunsmith's clients in committing crimes.

Lucas said the firearms made by the gunsmith are illegal as he had no permit or license to make guns.

The police official credited the community for the arrest. Lucas said some residents reported to them that they heard gunshots from the gunsmith’s house when the suspect would test the firearms he made or repaired.

The gunsmith has yet to comment on the allegations. He will be facing charges for illegal manufacture and illegal possession of firearms and ammunition under Republic Act 10591 or the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act. — Mariel Celine Serquiña/JMA, GMA Integrated News