EX-SOLDIER CAUGHT WITH GUNS, SHABU

Former member of the Philippine Army’s special forces was caught with guns of various caliber during a search by CIDG 7

A former corporal of the Special Forces of the Philippine Army was caught with guns and shabu when a search warrant was served on him in Barangay Basak, Compostela yesterday dawn.

Zaldy Pareja, 56, an ex-corporal of the 19th Infantry Brigade based in Samar, yielded an automatic rifle (AR) 15, a caliber .45 pistol, two caliber. 38 revolvers with five bullets, and four small sachets of shabu.

He was caught by operatives of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) 7, who served a warrant issued by Judge Antonio Marigomen of the Regional Trial Court, Branch 61 of Bogo City. Pareja was reported by residents in the barangay for alleged indiscriminate firing.

CIDG 7 operatives, headed by Chief Insp. Lirio Coral, conducted surveillance and confirmed the reports.

Pareja denied he owned the packs of shabu that were confiscated but claimed he was the bodyguard of Compostela Mayor Joel Quiño, who allegedly is a relative.

Pareja was dismissed from service in 1993 for allegedly abandoning his detachment and for malversation, allegations that he denied.

On the same day, an alleged gun distributor was caught by operatives from the Provincial Intelligence Branch (PIB) in Barangay Suba, Danao City. Dioscoro “Diosing” Manit yielded two .45 pistols and a 9mm Black Widow when a search warrant was served.

The warrant was issued by Judge Jerry Dicdican of Danao City.