Belgian arrested in Aklan for hoarding guns

A 61-year-old Belgian has been arrested by combined operatives of the Philippine National Police (PNP) for hoarding guns in Tangalan town, Aklan province.

Police Officer 3 Sheryl Teodosio identified the Belgian as Michel Wuestenbergs, who was nabbed in his own house in Pudiot village last March 16, 2016.

While Wuestenbergs is known to be an amiable man in the village, the Tangalan PNP received numerous complaints of alleged indiscriminate firing inside his house.

Combined operatives of the Tangalan PNP, the Criminal Investigation Group (CIDG), Highway Patrol Group (HPG) found numerous guns and ammunitions when they came around to arrest Wuestenbergs.

Recovered from the Belgian national’s possession were seven live ammunition of caliber .45; 23  pieces of empty shells of 12-gauge shotgun; one piece 50 rounder bullet box; 37 empty shells of caliber .45; 29 pieces of empty shells of caliber .22 and three empty shells of caliber .38.

Wuestenbergs also surrendered his .45 caliber Armscor and another 12-gauge shotgun.

He told investigators that collecting guns and ammunitions was his hobby.

Manila Bulletin tried to interview Wuestenbergs at the Aklan Provincial Prosecutor’s Office in the capital town of Kalibo, but the Belgian refused to comment.

Wuestenbergs is facing charges for violating Republic Act. No. 10591 or the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act.