Gun running group detained

ALLEGED leader of a criminal group including six others were simultaneously arrested over the past days by the

Police Regional Office – Cordillera.

Joel Ganado Abenoja, 40 years old, farmer, suspected leader of a criminal group involved in land grabbing and gun running activities operating in the municipality of Quezon, Isabela was arrested on October 12 in his residence in Brgy. Callangigan, Quezon, Isabela while confiscated from his possession is one fragmentation hand grenade.

Meanwhile, two alleged members of the Seguncia Group identified as Bacuyag Bacuyag Cawas, 52 and Arsenio Candelario Antonio, 66, both farmers and residents of Pinagan, Bulanao, Tabuk City, Kalinga, were captured in Brgy. Estrada, Quezon, Isabela.

Confiscated from the suspects are one M16 Colt AR 15 rifle, one M14 US Springfield rifle, 312 pieces of ammunitions for M16, M14, and shotgun; 16 magazines for M16 and M14 rifle, two improvised shotgun, two black bonnet, one upper garment camouflage army uniform; and one tactical pants.

Both criminal groups are operating in the municipality of Quezon, Isabela, and other adjacent municipalities of the provinces of Kalinga and Isabela.

Police said the two are newly identified criminal groups and will be charged violating RA 10591 otherwise known as “the Comprehensive Law on Firearms and Ammunition.

The group trio were arrested by joint Intelligence personnel of PRO COR, Criminal Intelligence and Detection Group Regional Field Unit 2 Isabela, Isabela Provincial Police Office and Regional Intelligence Unit-14 PNP Intelligence Group.

During a simultaneous implementation of search warrant against loose firearm, four gun holders were also separately nabbed in Mt. Province and Abra.

Arrested individuals were identified as Gabriel Wansi Edduba, Edward Tabbagon Ganggangan, and Walter Tabbagon Ganggangan who were all arrested by the joint personnel of Paracelis Municipal Police Station, Intelligence personnel of Mt. Province PPO, RIU14 and CIDG, and Regional Mobile Force Battalion (RMFB) in the afternoon of October 14 in their respective residences in Sitio Addang, Bunot, Paracelis.

Confiscated items are one shotgun, one carbine (M2), one 12 gauge shotgun, one caliber .22 riffle, one improvised shotgun, one caliber .22 rifle; 222 assorted ammunitions; and five (5) magazines for cal. 30 and M16 rifle.

During the operation, 118 assorted ammunitions, 19 assorted magazines for M16 and M14 and two chainsaws were seized in the residences of four individuals who are not around during the search.

Another suspect identified as Jodel Batalon Bajo, 21, construction worker, was arrested at Brgy. Calot, Bangued, Abra by the joint personnel of CIDGAbra, PNP-Special Action Force, and Bangued MPS in the morning of October 12.

Seized from the suspect were one GA12 shotgun without serial number, one magazine clip for GA12 shotgun and three (3) ammunitions for GA12 shotgun.