THE Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) in Negros Occidental is investigating the possible involvement of the business partners of Bryan Ta-ala, one of the suspects arrested for the shipment of smuggled gun parts in Bacolod City early last month.
Senior Inspector Ariel Artillero, CIDG provincial head, said they are looking into the “contacts and associates” of Ta-ala in the province who may be involved in the illegal gun trade.
Police said that Ta-ala and his driver Wilford Palma were alleged members of a gun smuggling syndicate, who sold guns believed to be used for the assassination of President Rodrigo Duterte.
An estimated P4.5 million worth of smuggled gun parts from the United States was recovered from their possession in Barangay Tangub, Bacolod City during an entrapment operation on August 6.
In a press conference of the police in Camp Crame Thursday, September 1, Palma admitted being a member of a gun smuggling group where their “number one” customer ordered several gun parts which will allegedly be used for the assassination of President Rodrigo Duterte.
“Ang sabi sa akin ng boss ko 'yung number one customer namin balak umorder ng lower end gun parts na gagamitin sa assassination ni President Duterte,” he said.
Ta-ala is confined in a hospital in Bacolod City for hypertension while Palma was detained in CIDG Manila. Both were charged with violations of RA 10591 or the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act.
Ta-ala’s lawyer Leon Moya said in media interviews in Bacolod that the accusations against his client are not true, adding that Ta-ala is a supporter of Duterte and even campaigned for him.
Moreover, Artillero said the lead unit investigating the case is the CIDG Intelligence Branch.
“Our role is information gathering and securing Ta-ala,” he said.
For his part, Senior Superintendent Flynn Dongbo, acting director of Bacolod City Police Office, said they are ready to assist in the investigation, if they will be requested by the lead unit.
Meanwhile, Interior Undersecretary for Public Safety Jesus Hinlo Jr. said that Ta-ala was not part of the two major groups that campaigned for Duterte in the province during the last elections, following the reports that Ta-ala is a supporter of Duterte.
However, he said that Ta-ala may have been supporting Duterte as a private citizen.
Hinlo said the Department of the Interior and Local Government may conduct a separate investigation on the case, as it involves the life of the President.
He called on the police to investigate the matter thoroughly.