NCRPO arrest ex-Armyman as suspect in gun-buying syndicate

February 28, 2020

The chief of the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) on Friday said a former member of the Philippine Army was arrested for his alleged involvement in gun-buying group syndicate.

Police Major General Debold Sinas said the arrested suspect was Wilson Bolante, 39.

Sinas said Bolante was nabbed in an operation by NCRPO with the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group NCR last Thursday around 9:10 pm in a mall parking lot in Pasay City.

Bolante is allegedly a member of a certain "Nido Group" who is engaged in selling unlicensed firearms.

“We suspect that Bolante’s group is involved in selling high-powered firearms,” Sinas said.

“We tracked him because we are alarmed over the increase of loose fireamrs in the metro and we are investigating where the firearms came from, if it is issued in PNP or AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) so that who will find out who is their source,” he added.

Sinas said they are conducting follow-up investigation.

Authorities confiscated one bushmaster M4, one M4 vltor, one PNP athletic shirt, magazines and his cellular phone.

Bolante is under the custody of CIDG- Regional Field Unit NCR for proper documentation and disposition. Ella Dionisio/DMS