Guns in roses? Man nabbed for illegal gun sale with flowers as cover

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Lawmen have apprehended a man in Silang, Cavite who used bouquets of flowers as cover for his alleged illegal trade of unlicensed firearms.

The suspect was identified as Jefferson Macalima, who was caught in an entrapment operation with a pistol placed inside a wrapped box along with flowers. His supposed intent, police said, was to look like he was giving gifts for Valentine’s Day.

“Ang dami niyang dalang bulaklak. Napag-alaman natin na ‘yung isang bulaklak, ‘yun ay cover niya talaga para di mapansin na magde-deliver siya ng baril,” said Police Lieutenant Colonel Vic Cabatingan of the Calabarzon police.

(He was carrying a lot of flowers. We found out that he was using one bouquet as cover so that people woud not notice that he was delivering a gun.)

According to John Consulta’s report Wednesday on 24 Oras, a .45-cal. pistol was seized from the suspect.

“Itong transaction ng firearms ay isinasagawa through social media. Pinaigting nila ang monitor sa isang suspek,” said Police Brigadier General Paul Kenneth Lucas, regional director of the Calabarzon police.

(His transactions for illegal firearms are done through social media. We intensified our monitoring activities on one suspect.)

For his part, Macalima denied the allegations, saying he was only instructed to deliver the flowers and the package.

“Napagutusan lang po ako, ‘di po totoo po ‘yun. Actually bumili lang po ako ng bulaklak talaga. ‘Yung isa, sa nagpakuha, ‘yung isa po, iso-sopresa ko sa asawa ko,” said Macalima.

(The allegations are false. I was just following orders. Actually, I only bought flowers. One bouquet was for the one who ordered, while the other was supposed to be a surprise for my wife.)

Meanwhile, authorities arrested a man with illegal firearms in San Pablo, Laguna.

“Mayroong concerned citizen na tumawag po sa ating kapulisan na mayroong isang tao na nagpapaputok at naglalabas ng baril. Nagkaroon ng search warrant, tama nga ‘yung concerned, meron ngang mga firearms itong suspek na ito,” said Lucas.

(A concerned citizen asked for police assistance over an individual who had repeatedly brandished and fired guns. Upon obtaining a search warrant, we were able to confirm that the suspect did possess unlicensed firearms.)

GMA Integrated News reached out to the suspect, but he has yet to issue a statement as of posting time.

The Philippine National Police (PNP) will conduct a ballistic examination to determine if the seized firearms were used in the alleged shooting incidents. — Sundy Mae Locus/ VDV, GMA Integrated News

This article Guns in roses? Man nabbed for illegal gun sale with flowers as cover was originally published in GMA News Online.