BY DOMINIQUE GABRIEL G. BAÑAGA
BACOLOD City – Operatives of the Philippine National Police – Integrity Monitoring Enforcement Group (PNP-IMEG) in the Visayas arrested a policeman in Barangay Estefania for allegedly selling an unlicensed firearm.
Police Staff Sergeant Gerwin Catolico was an investigator assigned in the Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) Police Station 2’s General Investigation Section.
According to the PNP-IMEG, Catolico was arrested on Sunday after selling an unlicensed Norinco .45 caliber ACP 1911A1 pistol for P12,000.
Police Captain Paul Vincent Pendon, Police Station 2 commander, said Catolico had long been assigned to their station, even before he became its commander.
Pendon also said he did not have any idea about Catolico’s personal activities, and noted that the policeman had not done anything out of the ordinary in his work as investigator.
Following Catolico’s arrest, Pendon immediately relieved the cop from his post.
He also ordered the preparation of administrative charges for filing.
The PNP-IMEG, meanwhile, will be responsible for the filing of criminal charges related to Republic Act 10591 (Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act) and the Commission on Elections’ gun ban.
Catolico is currently in the custody of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group./PN
