Gun runners bagged in Abra
THREE alleged gun runners were collared in Abra by the Cordillera police over the week before these loose firearms fall into the hands of private armed groups.
By virtue of a search warrant issued by Judge Raphiel Alzate of RTC Branches 1 and 58 of Bangued and Bucay, respectively, Cesar Frio Blanes, 48, a butcher and a resident of Sitio Turod, Calaba, Bangued was arrested in the afternoon of November 9 while Manuel Malaggay Labaoan, 40, married, driver and a resident of Brgy. Cabaroan, Tayum was likewise nabbed in the morning of November 8.
Seized from Blanes are one Colt MK IV cal. 45 pistol with serial no. 835621, 12 ammunitions for cal. 45, and two magazines, while one Colt MK IV cal. 45 with serial number 258910, one magazine assembly with eight ammunitions and a holster was found inside the household of Labaoan.
In another operation, Angelo Dacanay Alfiler a.k.a Gelo, 47,
was arrested in his residence at Brgy. Velasco, Tayum, in the morning of November 6 as authorities seized a Cal. 22 armscor rifle without a serial number and four pieces of ammunition.
The suspects together with the confiscated items are now under the custody of the concerned operating units, while a case for Violating RA 10591 (Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act) were filed against them.
Meanwhile, a farmer in the province voluntarily surrendered a hand grenade after being convinced by the Abra Provincial Police on the repercussions of having such weapons in his possession November 9.
Luba Municapl Police Station assistant chief, Senior Inspector Goerge Acob who led in the conduct of a barangay visitation and pulong-pulong at Barangays Lul-Luna and Nagbukel, both in Luba identified the farmer as Felomino Roberto, 45, married, and a resident of Brgy. Nagbukel surrendered the hand grenade without a serial number in support to the PNP’s intensified campaign against loose firearms.
The explosive is now under the custody of Luba MPS for documentation prior turn–over to Abra PPO.
Cordillera police, according to Police Regional Office director Francis Elmo Sarona will continue to focus on the campaign against loose firearms and will do its best to arrest more violators to curb gunrelated violence in the streets including other weapons.