PRO8 arrests 4 gun ban violators, confiscates 10 firearms

By RPCRD, Police Regional Office 8
January 23, 2013

CAMP SEC. RUPERTO K. KANGLEON, Palo, Leyte – The Police Regional Office 8 (PRO8) announced that four persons have been arrested for violating the election gun ban 10 days since its implementation on Sunday, January 13.

PRO8 Regional Director Police Chief Superintendent Elmer Ragadio Soria informed that two of the violators were arrested in checkpoint operations in Samar while one was arrested as a result of implementation of search warrant. Another violator was a suspect in a murder incident wherein 2 firearms were confiscated after a lawful arrest.

Soria added that since the start of the gun ban, they have confiscated 10 assorted firearms while 11 other firearms were deposited by their owners in various police stations regionwide pending the processing for renewal of their respective licenses.

“We are appealing for the support and cooperation of the public. The strict implementation of the gun ban as shown by our intensified checkpoint operations and implementation of search warrants forms part of our commitment in securing a secure and fair midterm elections,” Soria said.

In Samar, two men were separately arrested in checkpoint operations for violating the gun ban in Sta. Rita and Calbayog City.

Soria identified the violators as Enrico Espino y Cajepe, 55, farmer, who was arrested in the morning of January 17 in a checkpoint established by the police along the national highway in Brgy. Tominamos, Sta. Rita, Samar while carrying a caliber .22 air rifle bearing serial number 98221 with 18 pellets.

The other suspect, identified as Bonifacio Dalion y Rosana, 41, businessman, was arrested last January 16 in a checkpoint at Brgy Migara, Calbayog City by a police team led by Police Superintendent Elmer B. Cinco, Chief of Police. Dalion was in possession of one unit caliber .45 Colt pistol with serial number 374821 and 3 magazines loaded with 7 ammunitions each.

Also, in Calbayog City, implementation of a search warrant issued by Executive Judge Cresente Maraya of Regional Trial Court Branch 11 in Calubian, Leyte last January 17 at the house of Mark Anthony Giray y Atiga, 31, Barangay Kagawad of Brgy Malaga, Tinambacan District, resulted in the confiscation of 3 caliber .45 pistols marked Armscor, Itchaca and Colt MK IV and a Armscor model 30 shotgun, including several magazines, ammunitions and gun paraphernalia.

Meanwhile, in Brgy. Naga, Oras, Eastern Samar last January 20, an implementation of search warrant issued by Judge Juliana White of Regional Trial Court Branch 5 in Oras, Eastern Samar at the residence of Roger Moscare, 32, and Ronald Lumuntad, 30, both laborers resulted in the confiscation of homemade PVC cannon locally known as “boga”. However, the subjects were not around during the search.

In Ormoc City, murder suspect Allan Diendo y Oleverio, 34, farmer was arrested by the police last January 19 in a pursuit operation after he shot and killed one Ricky Caleza y Santianes, 22, laborer at Brgy. Nasunugan. The police confiscated from the suspect a Brandmaster caliber .45 caliber pistol with serial number 473126 and a .22 caliber revolver with 6 bullets and one heat-sealed transparent plastic sachet containing white crystalline substance suspected to be “shabu.”

On January 21, personnel from San Juanico Bridge Leyte Side Detachment of the 8th Regional Public Safety Battalion responded to a call for police assistance at Brgy Tinaogan, Basey, Samar wherein upon arriving at the scene, Brgy Chairman Mariano Lar turned-over one .38 caliber revolver marked Squires Bingham with serial number 955307 with no ammunition allegedly confiscated from a certain Jhun Calina, also from said place. Calinao is now the subject of manhunt operations by the PNP.