Lawyer arrested for guns in Cavite

IMUS CITY, Cavite – A 72-year-old lawyer was arrested before dawn Friday after several guns, including high-powered ones, were found in his car during a checkpoint in this capital city.

The Imus Police identified the suspect as Lawyer Manuel Moyco Cobia, a resident of Bayan Luma II, Imus.

Cobia was brought to Imus Police Station when he could not present any pertinent papers for the guns and magazines that were found in the compartment of his Innova car at the time of his arrest.

Police Master Sergeant Alfredo dela Cruz Jr., officer on case, said that Cobia was arrested at 1:30 a.m. by the officers at the checkpoint put up near a gasoline station and the Our Lady of Pillar Medical Center on Sarah Avenue, Barangay Luma II.

The checkpoint was conducted by the Imus Police and the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG).

In an interview by this reporter, Cobia denied that he owned all the guns that the police seized from the car.

“Ang sa akin lang ay ‘yung .9mm pistol, ‘yung iba hindi sa akin. Hindi ko alam kung bakit may mga baril sa compartment ng kotse,” Cobia said.

In a report, investigator De la Cruz said that those seized from Cobia were one M16 rifle, GIS Colt with defaced serial numbers, two .9mm Sigsauer pistols, one .45-caliber pistol, one .38-caliber revolver, one Ingratec .9mm Luger, one Ingram machine pistol, assorted magazine pistols, many bullets for 5.56 rifle and .9mm and .45-caliber pistols and a .38-caliber revolver, two pistol silencers and black inside holster.

De la Cruz said that Cobia was held at the police station for interrogation while the confiscated guns and bullets were brought to the Cavite Crime Laboratory Office for examination.

Other details about the guns, magazines, bullets and other materials were withheld by the police for the meantime pending investigation.

Cobia was still at the Imus police station as of 1 p.m. Friday.