NPA's guns

Man who brought in guns linked with NPA: DCPO

DAVAO City Police Office (DCPO) Police Senior Supt. Alexander Tagum confirmed that the owner of the black bag that had seven handguns and an Ingram rifle confiscated at Sitio Licanan, Lasang, Davao City is connected with the New People's Army (NPA), sparking their initial suspicion that these were indeed intended to arm their Special Partisan Unit (Sparu) or the so-called Sparrow Unit.

The suspect was identified as Arnold Juayon.

His image was captured by a close circuit television (CCTV) while disembarking at the bus before approaching the Task Force Davao (TFD). The suspect initially rode the Bachelor bus all the way from Lipata, Surigao City.

"Ang affiliation niya base sa mga lumalabas sa intelligence natin, na ang background ng taong na-identify is clearly affiliated with the New People’s Army (NPA)," Tagum said.

The firearms seized by the personnel manning the checkpoint were one Ingram Machine Pistol with silencer, seven .45 pistols with nine magazines, and cache of high-powered firearms hidden inside a black bag which was traced by a sniffing dog at the bus compartment.

"Obviously, with the appearance of the firearms ito'y galing sa hukay dahil my kalawang at ito'y na-detect ng K9. Ibig sabihin, hindi ito bago. Ito'y ginagamit na before. This is intended for hit squad ng NPA," Tagum said yesterday in an interview on the sideline of the Kapehan sa Dabaw media forum at The Annex of SM City Davao.

Tagum said that normally, the guns they intercept from gunrunning syndicates are wellgreased as these are intended for sale.

"Normally, ito'y nakagrasa, nakalagay sa plastic at hindi pa nagamit," he said.

Tagum said the NPA had their earlier pronouncement that they will revive their Sparrow Unit to support their illegal extortion activity. The Sparrow Unit is a faction of NPA that is responsible for the assassination of government security forces and civilians.

Charges have been filed against Juayon for illegal possession of firearms and Tagum said that they are now waiting for the court to release the warrant of arrest after two months.

"We will give you a clear picture pag lumabas na ang warrant of arrest para humingi ng tulong para malaman kung nasaan ang suspect na ito," he said.

He added that continuing intelligence monitoring have been conducted to locate the suspect.

Tagum also said they are looking into the possibility if the suspect has cohorts inside the city who will be his companion in the illegal operation.

"Ongoing parin ang aming investigation at meron na kaming natatanggap na information kung saan papunta ang mga baril na ito. Kaya patuloy parin ang paghahanda ng Davao City Police Office (DCPO) para bantayan kung ano man ang pinaplano nila na masama para sa Davao City," he said. JCR