MANILA (August 4) — The Philippine National Police (PNP) is stepping up intelligence and investigative operations against gun-for-hire groups and unlicensed firearms dealers as concerns over contract killings and the circulation of illegal weapons intensify.
The police crackdown comes amid Vice President Sara Duterte’s controversial statement about allegedly hiring a gunman for P5,000, an issue that has figured in the impeachment proceedings against her.
Duterte is facing an impeachment trial that includes allegations involving an alleged plot to have President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and members of his family killed if she were to die. The allegations remain subject to the proceedings.
Against this backdrop, the PNP is urging the public to report credible information involving planned or attempted contract killings so authorities can immediately validate the reports and take appropriate action.
PNP chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said police operations are being intensified against illegal firearms and individuals linked to organized criminal activities.
“We are intensifying operations against illegal firearms, pursuing wanted persons linked to organized criminal activities and working closely with prosecutors and partner agencies to ensure successful prosecution,” Nartatez said.
The police chief also pointed to records showing that some confiscated firearms have been linked to multiple criminal activities, raising concerns about how illegally circulated weapons move from one criminal operation to another.
“Every piece of credible information can help save lives, solve cases and hold offenders accountable,” Nartatez said.
He urged the public to cooperate with police authorities, particularly by providing information that can help identify individuals involved in contract killings, illegal firearms trading and organized crime.
The renewed campaign puts the spotlight on a problem that extends beyond individual gun-for-hire cases: the availability of unregistered firearms can provide the tools for assassinations, intimidation, robbery and other violent crimes.
For the PNP, the challenge is not simply confiscating guns after crimes occur but tracing where the weapons came from, identifying the networks supplying them and building cases strong enough to withstand prosecution.
The police said cooperation among investigators, prosecutors and other government agencies will be critical in dismantling these networks and preventing illegal firearms from continuing to fuel violent crime.
