2 cops, 2 others nabbed for selling a gun online

CEBU, Philippines — Two police officers and two others were nabbed for allegedly conspiring with each other in selling a firearm online.

Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) Director Royina Garma said Police Officer 1 Oliver Navarro and two civilians, Agustin Nautan, a resident of Mandaue City, and Dennis Justilla Escaran of Sambag, Cebu City, were arrested through an entrapment operation Tuesday night.

An operative from the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group posed as the poseur buyer.

Garma said the poseur buyer transacted with Nautan and manifested his intent to buy the caliber 45 pistol for P25,000.

At 10: 30 p.m. on Tuesday, an entrapment operation was conducted leading to the arrest of Navarro, Nautan, and Escaran, in front of a hotel at F. Ramos St., Cebu City.

During the investigation, Navarro, 40, a member of the Mobile Patrol Group of the CCPO, said the firearm was owned by Police Officer 2 Redzon Baguion, 32, assigned as a patrol officer at the Fuente Police Station.

The firearm was allegedly pawned to Navarro.

Garma said because Baguion was not able to pay his obligation to Navarro, the former allegedly told the latter to sell the firearm through Nautan and Escaran.

The CIDG were able to recover a caliber 22 revolver, a caliber 38 revolver, a caliber 45 magazine, assorted live ammunitions, and P25,000 marked money from the possession of Escaran and Nautan.

Fuente Police Station Chief Edward Sanchez said they went to the resident of Baguion and the latter voluntarily surrendered.

Sanchez, who visited the CIDG Office yesterday, said Baguion was not sorry of his arrest.

Baguion explained to him that he pawned his private firearm for the medical expenses of his wife who reportedly had a miscarriage.

The caliber 45 pistol of Baguion is a licensed firearm but the license is expired, Sanchez added.

Aside from the criminal complaints for COMELEC gun ban and illegal possession of firearm and violation of Republic Act 10591 or Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act, Baguion and Navarro will be facing an administrative complaint for grave misconduct.

Meanwhile, Garma warned her men not to follow the acts of the two policemen.

She told them to be careful and give respect and justice to their uniform.

“Anong hihingin nila? Taas naman ng sweldo.  If service firearm (referring to what was pawned), impas sila tanan. Di na pwede,” she said.

It seems that the suspects were selling ordinary thing online like clothes or cellphones, she added. — GAN (FREEMAN)