Police operatives in Bacong town in Negros Oriental province seized several firearms, ammunition and explosive during a raid Wednesday morning.
The Bacong Police carried out the raid by virtue of a search warrant for violation of Republic Act No. 10591, or the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act, issued by Negros Oriental Executive Judge Gerardo Paguio Jr. against suspect Arnold Callet Calpis, 42, a resident of Barangay Banilad.
Calpis was arrested and detained as charges are being readied against him.
It was the second time this week that police confiscated illegal firearms and ammunition, after Monday’s raid in Barangay Yupisan in Pamplona town.
An initial police report said that Pamplona police personnel, headed by Sr. Insp. John Lynbert Yango, served a search warrant against the suspect, identified as Gerry Publico Amada, of legal age, married, and a resident of Barangay Yupisan, around 10 o’clock in the morning of Monday.
During the search, the police recovered one unit .45 caliber pistol; one unit 9mm pistol; one unit KG9mm rifle; one magazine for 9mm; four magazines for .45 caliber; two extended magazines for KG9mm rifle; one short magazine for M16 rifle; three rounds live ammunition for M16; and 29 rounds of live ammunition for 9mm pistol.
The search warrant was issued by Judge Leah P. Villarubia of the Municipal Circuit Trial Court for violation of Republic Act 10591, otherwise known as the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act, against Amada.
Sr. Supt. Portento said police are further investigating the suspects in Pamplona and Bacong from whom the illegal firearms, ammunition and explosive were confiscated.
Provincial police director, Sr. Supt. Edwin Portento, warned that they would be intensifying their operations against illegal firearms, especially with the upcoming gun ban to be implemented by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) starting April 14 in preparation for the May 14 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections.
The police would step up its application for search warrants for illegal gun owners while legal gun owners would not be allowed to bring their firearms outside their homes without a permit.
However, since the Philippine National Police and the Armed Forces of the Philippines will be under the operational control of the Comelec during the election period, the commission will have the authority to decide on who can carry firearms during the election period. (Metro Post/Judy Flores Partlow/PNA)
