PRO8 recovers arms cache, nabs army man for carrying gun in Calbayog City

By RPCRD, Police Regional Office 8
December 17, 2012

CAMP SEC. RUPERTO K. KANGLEON, Palo, Leyte  –  The Regional Special Operations Task Group is conducting investigation if the firearms cache recovered in Calbayog City recently belongs to a Partisan Armed Group (PAG) in Samar’s first district even as a member of the Philippine Army was nabbed by police operatives in the city for carrying an undocumented firearm.

“I ordered the RSOTG and the police chief in Calbayog to conduct a thorough investigation as said firearms may belong to a PAG or criminal elements in the area,” Police Chief Superintendent Elmer Ragadio Soria, Eastern Visayas director said.

The Police Regional Office 8 activated the RSOTG recently to ensure secure and fair elections in 2013 especially in Samar province, which the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) earlier classified as one of the 15 “priority areas” for next year’s midterm polls.

Soria informed that at about 9:45 in the evening of December 12, information received by the Calbayog City Police Station disclosed that there were 3 suspicious-looking men sighted infront of the Baptist Church in Purok 3, Brgy Hamorawon, some two kilometers east from the city proper.

Upon cognizance of the report, police team led by Police Senior Inspector Aaron Elago immediately proceeded to the area but the men scampered towards the mountainous area of said village evading arrests after a chase by the police team.

Investigation at the scene yielded a black bag containing a KG9 9mm Luger machine pistol model TEC-KG9 bearing serial number 334612 with one magazine containing 26 live ammunitions; one 9mm caliber pistol with serial number 80059 with one magazine loaded with 12 ammo and .22 caliber revolver marked Black Widow with serial number PAT 4824463 loaded with 5 ammunitions.

“We are not discounting the possibility that said firearms may belong to a group that maybe utilized in next year’s polls,” Soria added, although he said that it may also belong some criminal groups operating in the city and nearby towns.

“Nevertheless, such accomplishment is a welcome development in our effort to ensure peaceful elections next year,” Soria averred.

The RSOTG is mandated to conduct a stepped up crackdown on PAGs and to initiate the massive drive against loose firearms especially in Samar province as the Regional Director vowed to dismantle the two remaining PAGs in said area before the campaign period starts in January next year.

Meanwhile, an enlisted personnel of Philippine Army was arrested by the police in the early morning of December 14 in a nightclub in Brgy. Aguit-itan also in Calbayog City.

Acting on a telephone call from one Nancy Tilos, proprietor of Moonlight Disco Club, who complained that a customer was creating trouble and refusing to pay his bills, a police team led by Police Superintendent Lope Ma. Ubaldo Lim arrested the suspect, later identified as Pfc. Andrew Biron y Ramos, 33, married, residing at Brgy San Pedro Irosin, Sorsogon and assigned at the 8th Infantry Division based in Camp Lukban in Catbalogan City.

Biron failed to show any document of his authority to possess the .357 caliber Smith and Wesson revolver loaded with 5 live ammunition seized from him.