Guard cocks AK-47 at enforcers, jailed

CEBU, Philippines - An armored van security guard may lose his license for allegedly cocking his AK-47 rifle infront of two traffic enforcers of the Cebu City Traffic Operations Management along Natalio Bacalso Avenue, Barangay Mambaling, Cebu City yesterday.

Jayson Alkuino, 28, of Davao Security and Investigation Agency (DASIA), allegedly threatened CITOM enforcers Dennis Rabago, 41, and Christobal Pardillo, 45, after insisting that they have to leave and settle their traffic violation some other time.

Rabago said that the armored van, which Alkuino and three other men were guarding, was involved in a traffic incident with a private vehicle at around 11:45 a.m.

“Ok ra kaayo ang driver sa armored van, pero kining si Alkuino maoy mi-harong namo,” Rabago said.  

He said that before they started gathering evidences and making sketches of the traffic incident, Alkuino who was reportedly carrying his AK-47 approached Rabago and Pardillo.

According to Rabago, Alkuino insisted that they be allowed to leave because they have very important cargo. “Arogante kaayo siya’g tingog nga mi-duol namo alsa-alsa iyang armas,” he said.

Rabago explained to him that they need to make the sketches before both vehicles are allowed to leave but Alkuino allegedly cocked his firearm which threatened both enforcers and prompted them to call for police assistance.

When they finished making the sketch of the incident, Alkuino reportedly rushed back inside the armored van which immediately sped off and led to a hot pursuit operation by the police.  

“Mao pa gyu’d pag-human nako’g sketch, mi-pasurot dayon sila og larga,” Rabago told The FREEMAN.

Elements from the Mobile Patrol Group and the motorcycle riding SWAT pursued the armored van with plate number MCY 200.

However, at around noon, the MPG car number 018 spotted the armored van and apprehended the suspect who surrendered his firearm and peacefully went with the police.  

Alkuino was brought by his arresting officers to the Mamba-ling Police Station where they met with Rabago and Pardillo.

The seemingly shocked Alkuino, who met the two enforcers, immediately asked for forgiveness, but the frightened enforcers refused to accept his apology. 

“Sayon ra ang pag-pasaylo, apan grabi kaayo to iyang gi-buhat namo,” Rabago said. 

Investigators said that Alkuino was able to show his license as a security guard, but failed to present the license for his AK-47 with 30 live rounds of ammunition.

The suspect will be charged today with grave threats and for violating the Firearms Law.

Supt. Rex Derilo, Chief of the Firearms, Explosive, Security Agency and Guards Section (FESAGS) told The FREEMAN that Alkuino may lose his license or be suspended for how he acted during his encounter with the two traffic enforcers. 

Derilo said that aside from the criminal case he will be facing, the FESAGS will also conduct a separate investigation for administrative charges.

“We will assure that his case will undergo proper process – we will give him due process,” Derilo said.

However, if Alkuino will be proven guilty, he will be sanctioned by FESAGS. “Di man sad mi gusto nga mo-abuse ang mga gwardya. They should be vigilant so that they would not be violating the rights of other people,” Derilo explained. 

Meanwhile, an alleged gun-for-hire was apprehended yesterday afternoon by elements of the Special Weapons and Tactics Unit (SWAT) of the Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) in Barangay Calamba. 

Napoleon Go Arda, 33, of Barangay Kamputhaw, Cebu City, an ex-convict, was apprehended inside his rented room where several high-powered firearms were also seized. 

According to the police, residents of the said barangay reported the presence of five armed persons at 3:15 p.m. which prompted CCPO operations to dispatch nine members of the motorcycle-riding SWAT team to the area.

When the police arrived, the group reportedly disappeared, but at around 4 p.m., the group was once again spotted at Sitio Meniolida of the said barangay.

Guided by Councilman Hildebrando Ygonia and Barangay Captain Victor “Jojo” Quijano Jr., members of the SWAT stormed the area but when they arrived, Arda together with four other unknown men scampered upon seeing the approaching policemen.

“Ni-sibat dayon sila pagkakita nila namo. Ang uban mi-sulod sa interior sa barangay unya ang uban mi-layat sa sapa,” PO1 Crisante Nudalo told The FREEMAN.

Arda, who reportedly panicked, rushed inside his rented room where he was cornered by the police and a colt 45 pistol was seized from his possession.

Inside the room where Arda was apprehended, the police recovered a shotgun, two Derringer magnums and a 38 caliber revolver with a laser.

However, Arda claimed that the firearms were not his. “Di man to akong kwarto ang gi-gikanan sa mga pusil,” he said.

He said that he lives in an adjacent room where the guns were recovered but contrary to what he said, Nudalo and his colleagues were certain that he was apprehended at the same place where the guns were seized.

Arda was previously jailed for homicide in 2000 at the Cebu City jail but was transferred to Muntinlupa in 2003 before he was finally transferred to the Iwahig Penal Colony in Palawan until he was paroled at 2009.

CCPO Investigation and Detective Management Branch chief Bonifacio Garciano told The FREEMAN that based on the guns they recovered, Arda might be a member of local gun-for-hire group.

“Posible nga miyembro ni siya sa gun-for-hire,” he said.

However, Garciano clarified they are still conducting further investigation to confirm this.

Arda is currently detained at CCPO while awaiting formal charges against him for violating the firearms law which will be filed today. — (FREEMAN)