OPERATIVES of the Waterfront Police Station of the Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) have recovered the remaining six missing unregistered firearms that were allegedly stolen by a fellow police officer.
Loose firearms, with expired licenses, were surrendered by their owners to the Waterfront Police Station for safekeeping in compliance with the CCPO’s campaign on firearms control.
Twelve of these firearms, though, went missing after they were reportedly stolen by Police Corporal Marlito Portugueza.
Six of the missing firearms had already been recovered, while the remaining six were retrieved on Thursday night, Feb. 27, 2020.
Major Joemar Pomarejos, Waterfront Police Station head, said one of the witnesses had immediately coordinated with them.
“The second witness, whom he had asked to hide the firearms, confessed to us. That was why we were able to retrieve them. They were not disposed of or sold,” Pomarejos said in Cebuano.
Investigation showed that Portugueza had been allegedly stealing firearms kept in the police station’s vault since mid-December last year.
After taking two firearms in December, Portugueza reportedly stole another four last January.
Six loose firearms were allegedly stolen just days before Valentine’s Day on Feb. 14.
The cop reportedly distributed the firearms to his acquaintances for “safekeeping.”
Those whom he had tapped, though, all live in barangays under the jurisdiction of the Waterfront Police Station.
Of the 12 stolen firearms, only one was disposed of after it was bought by Portugueza’s acquaintance from Barangay Tinago, Cebu City for P15,000.
The Waterfront Police Station on Friday, Feb. 28, filed robbery charges against Portugueza at the Cebu City Prosecutor’s office.
He is also facing administrative charges, which may result in his dismissal from service.
The owners of the stolen firearms may also file charges against the cop.
Pomarejos said they will no longer file charges against those who were asked by Portugueza to hide the firearms since they have been cooperative and have expressed willingness to help the authorities. (AYB, RTF)