Police anti-cybercrime operatives arrested a 33-year-old Chinese chef in Makati City for allegedly selling an illegal firearm online.
The Philippine National Police Anti-Cybercrime Group apprehended the suspect after he reportedly posted a .9mm pistol for sale online for P40,000. An entrapment operation was swiftly conducted, leading to his arrest.
Police recovered the pistol and two spare magazines with live ammunition from the suspect.
Investigation revealed that the gun’s license expired in 1999 and was originally registered to a Filipino individual.
The suspect claimed that a Chinese friend gifted him the pistol before leaving for China, and he intended to use the proceeds from the sale for his travel expenses back to China.
Police said the suspect and his family arrived in the Philippines in 2019. However, his family returned to China after the restaurant where he worked went bankrupt and closed.
Authorities are preparing to file charges against the suspect for violating the election gun ban and the comprehensive firearms and ammunition law.