High-powered firearms confiscated from El Nido real estate agent
Marines and police operatives in El Nido arrested a 70-year old real estate agent for illegal possession of an assortment of highpowered firearms and ammunition on Tuesday, May 1. Senior Inspector Ric Ramos, information officer of the provincial PNP, identified the suspect as Antonio Bebiano, member of the Commando Brotherhood, and a resident of Sitio Nasigdan, Barangay Masagana, El Nido. Seized from his possession were one unit of 9mm submachinegun with serial number, one unit caliber pistol .357, an improvised 12-gauge shotgun, another shotgun with a defaced serial number, a caliber 45 pistol, and an assorted number of magazines and live ammunition. The firearms were discovered after a joint team of the Marine Battalion Landing Team 12, CIDG, and the El Nido Municipal Police Station (MPS) served him a search warrant issued on April 25 by Regional Trial Court Judge Anna Leah Tiongson-Mendoza. CIDG spokesperson PO3 Christopher Enriquez said Bebiano had been on their watch for a long time before his arrest. “Base sa intelligence report na natanggap natin, ginagamit nga nitong si Antonio Bebiano bilang panakot ang mga baril dahil may inaangkin siyang lupa,” he said. The suspect was unable to present any documents that could prove his possession of the firearms was legal. Cases for violation of Republic Act 10591 also known as the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act are now being prepared by the CIDG.