Thursday, August 14, 2008 ‘Bodyguard’s’ firearm traced to retired cop
THE Cebu Provincial Police Office (CCPO) is rechecking its inventory to find out if a firearm seized from an arrested person in Mandaue City was a gun formerly issued to a retired policeman.
This was after the Mandaue City Police Office (MCPO) received information that the 9mm seized from an alleged bodyguard of Councilor Victor Biaño was registered to a retired policeman formerly assigned with the CPPO.
CPPO Director Carmelo Valmoria said that initially, the records showed that the retired policeman’s issued firearm was a .45 pistol and not a 9mm.
Also, he said the retired policeman would not have been able to claim his benefits if he did not surrendered Philippine National Police property before he retired. Clearances have to be signed before an officer who retires wants to claim his benefits.
Surrender
Records at the CPPO Supply Section showed that SPO4 Virgilio Guadalquiver, former finance officer of the CPPO, surrendered his issued .45 pistol before he retired from the service in January last year.
The .45 pistol has since been issued to PO2 Al Gipatalagan of the Police Community Relations Section.
Valmoria said they are checking their inventory if a similar 9mm firearm was issued to any of their personnel.
They are also looking into some personnel who went on absent without official leave and failed to turnover their issued firearms.
Florencio “Jun” Pueblas was arrested at the Mandaue City Hall last Tuesday as he was about to enter the session hall. He had with him a 9mm Pietro Berreta pistol with PNP markings.
He failed to show a permit to carry firearm outside residence, which was why he was arrested. (MEA)
