Cop’s service firearm stolen, sold by child

CEBU, Philippines - A service firearm of a police officer, which was stolen inside his car while he was at church, was allegedly sold by a child to a man in Barangay Duljo-Fatima, Cebu City.

Senior Inspector Rolito Supatan, Theft and Robbery Section chief, said after PO3 Bryan Pastor reported the theft of his valuables, including his service firearm, they conducted a follow-up operation and learned from a source that a child sold the gun in Barangay Duljo-Fatima.

The police officers reportedly went to the person who bought the gun, but was no longer there and no one could identify the child who sold the gun.

“So far dunay na-follow-up nga gibaligya ang armas sa Duljo, giadto nila ang nakapalit, wala diha.  Ang suspek wala nailhan pero naay nakahatag og info nga bata maoy nagbaligya ngadto,” Supatan said.

Last Sunday, PO3 Pastor of the Firearms Explosives Security Service Agency and Guards Supervisory Section-7 parked his car and left his service firearm inside to attend the Sunday Service at Bethel Temple along B. Rodriguez Street, Sambag 1, Cebu City past 11 a.m. on Sunday.

The burglars destroyed the left (back) door of the car and took the police officer’s bag containing his 9mm pistol, magazine and 50 ammo, as well as his handcuffs, PNP ID, external hard drive, P1,500 cash and other cards.

Supatan said the perpetrators are most likely local boys and is suspected to be operating in Cebu City. He added they are investigation into the matter.

Meanwhile, the police are set to file charges against a man, who attempted to steal items from a car parked in a hotel’s parking area along Archbishop Reyes Avenue last Saturday.

Senior Inspector Peter Heartzel Bellido, Fuente Police Station Chief, said they secured a copy of the closed circuit television camera footage in the hotel’s parking area and saw the suspect, Regie Vergara, opening the car of Susan Etoc.

Etoc reported to the police last Saturday after she discovered that her car was burglarized while parked in a hotel’s parking lot.

Bellido said that after they got the complaint, they coordinated with the hotel security to view the CCTV footage.

Based on the CCTV footage, Bellido said Vergara allegedly tried to open the door of the vehicle but failed when the alarm sounded so he hid inside his friend’s Tamaraw FX.

Vergara tried again and was able to enter the car but only got a bunch of keys.

Bellido said they will be filing charges against Vergara today, as soon as the affidavits and other documents are ready. — (FREEMAN)