Mindanao Times

Security agency insists no high-powered guns in raid

- BY RHODA GRACE B. SARON

THE OWNER of Mongoose Security Agency, the security provider of Apex Mining Company in Masara, Maco, Davao de Oro Province, yesterday clarified that there were no high-powered firearms recovered during a raid last Jan. 14.

Jesus Martinez told

in a phone interview yesterday said that two of the subjects of the search warrant on the mining company’s compound were not around during the operation. “That is why one person was imprisoned,” he said.

“No high-powered firearms were recovered during the raid,” he added.

Martinez also said that his agency committed no violation. “It was a fabricated story,” he said.

In fact, he said that it was Mongoose that requested the National Bureau of Investigat­ion to conduct the search warrant. It was also the agency that initiated the filing of cases for robbery, grave coercion, and illegal detention against three security officers of Apex, which precipitat­ed the raid.

He narrated that Mongoose Security Agency has been the security provider of Apex Mining since 2014, and their contract will end on April 17, 2020.

“My only request was to return my remaining shotguns,

9mm pistols, and (for the company) to pay the balance of more than P23 million,” he added.

According to the Police Regional Office XI report, elements of the Regional Civil Security Unit XI, Regional Mobile Force Battalion, Davao de Oro Provincial Mobile Force Company, Davao de Oro Police Provincial Office inspected the compound.

Brig. Gen. Filmore Escobal, the director of Police Regional Office XI, said the inspection was conducted to validate the complaints by employee security guards of alleged threats and violations of the owner of Mongoose Security Agency for delayed and non-payment of their salaries, SSS, PhilHealth, and the alleged possession of unregister­ed high-powered firearms.

Escobal said the authoritie­s confiscate­d 13 pieces of M16 rifles, one .30 caliber M1 Garand, and two 12-gauge shotguns. Also confiscate­d were one defaced M16 rifle, one defaced 12-gauge shotgun, one .50 caliber Barret sniper rifle, according to the report.

Police also arrested Greg Anduwa Macaspe, who yielded one M16A1 firearm with an attached grenade launcher, M203 and one magazine, and 10 live bullets. A charge for violation of RA 10591 was filed against Macaspe.

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