Illegal firearm trade in the Philippines

The creation, selling, and smuggling of illegal firearms is one of the most common criminal activities in the Philippines. Filipino-made local guns, built in secret factories, are sold and circulated not just in the country but also abroad.[1]

History

Filipino gunsmithing can be traced back to World War II when Filipino guerrillas fighting the Imperial Japanese built their own weapons and firearms, most notably the paltik, boga, and guerilla shotguns.[2][3] After the war, knowledge of firearms manufacturing were passed down to the present day,[4] many of whom continued to build firearms in secret huts and factories inside jungles and mountains, with Danao, Cebu being the area most well-known for making illegal firearms.[5] Factories in Samar and Mindanao also exist.[1][6] Mayor Ramonito “Nito” Durano III of Cebu have once tried to reach out to President Rodrigo Duterte in the hopes of discussing the possibility of legalizing such gunsmithing factories.[7]

Most of these firearms end up being sold to private citizens, insurgents, and criminals. Syndicates in the Philippines have also taken advantage of the illegal firearm trade, with the Waray-Waray Gang being the most notable firearm trafficking group in the Philippines.[8][9] Common illegally manufactured firearms in the Philippines include:

International shipment

Filipino guns have been smuggled and used in the United States of America and Japan, mostly in the hands of gangs.[1][10] The most common ones sold are homemade Colt .45s and assault rifles. One infamous case occurred on November 29, 2019, when Yakuza leader Keiichi Furukawa of the Yamaguchi-gumi was gunned down by a splinter Kobe group with an M653P rifle, a Filipino imitation of the CAR-15. The gun was tracked down by Japanese police to the Philippines.[11][1]

References
  1. Monsoon, Jackie. "The International Trade of Filipino Guns". Pinas. February 7, 2021
  2. Lizanilla J. Amarga (June 13, 2007). "Communists admit slay of 2 Cafgus, datus". Sun Star. Archived from the original on October 11, 2007.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  3. "Richardson Industries M5 Philippine guerrilla gun: A gun to get a gun 5/14/17 by Chris Eger". Archived from the original on August 8, 2018. Retrieved February 7, 2021.
  4. Gutierrez, Jason. "A Family Craft With a Deadly Toll: Illegal Gun Making". New York Times. April 7, 2019
  5. "For some Filipinos, the family business is illegal, dangerous and deadly". Independent. April 7, 2019
  6. Miani, Lino (2011). The Sulu Arms Market: National Responses to a Regional Problem. Institute of Southeast Asian. p. 111. ISBN 9789814311113. Retrieved November 6, 2017.
  7. Bongcac, Doris. "Danao gun makers hope Digong can solve 'century old' problem". Cebu Daily News. February 12, 2018
  8. Andrade, Jeanette I. "2 suspected gunrunners killed in QC shootout". Philippine Daily Inquirer. December 7, 2020
  9. Pascual, Jekki. "2 hinihinalang miyembro ng 'Waray Waray' gang, patay sa umano'y engkuwentro sa QC". ABS-CBN. December 6, 2020
  10. "GHOST GUNS". National Geographic. Archived from the original on October 20, 2016.
  11. Ang, Matthias. "Senior yakuza member reportedly shot dead with assault rifle in Japan shopping district". Mothership. November 29, 2019
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