Loose firearms seized

CEBU, Philippines - Assorted loose firearms worth P60,000 were confiscated from two men who were caught in the act of assembling the guns in Barangay Taboc Camalig Bato, Danao City last Thursday.

The bust was conducted by operatives of the Provincial Intelligence Branch, but the group only arrested two workers. Their main target, Renato Ramoneda, a resident of Sitio Lapu-Lapu, Barangay Suba, eluded arrest.

The two men arrested were identified as Sherwin Manipis Bayo, of Barangay Suba and Joseph Tobias, of Barangay Taboc Camalig Bato.

They are detained at the Consolacion police stockade pending the filing of charges against them and Ramoneda.

The PIB recovered from them six .45 pistols, all with defaced serial numbers and five magazines, a .9mm KG9 sub-machine pistol with a defaced serial number with two magazines,  and a .38 revolver with a defaced serial number.

SPO1 Francis Allen Villamor, the team leader, said the transaction was consummated when Ramoneda handed the guns to the poseur buyer in exchange of the supposed payment.

Villamor said Ramoneda might have sensed the presence of the PIB when the poseur buyer was trying to convince to release more firearms. At this point in time, Ramoneda reportedly excused himself, saying he would urinate, and no longer returned.

“Gisige ug istorya hangtod niingon nga duna pa, magkuha tag lain mao amo gipaabot unya niingon man nga mangihi kadiyot wala na nibalik (They continued to talk until the suspect says there are more, but when he was being convinced to get the guns, he excused himself),” Villamor said in a phone interview.

Ramoneda is allegedly among the top three suppliers of loose firearms in the PIB list.

Villamor told The Freeman that Ramoneda acts as “stock holder and financier.” He also reportedly peddles the guns personally to his contacts at times.

“Duna gyud ni siyay trabahante nga iyaha (He has his own men),” Villamor said, adding, that Ramoneda is only engaged in illegal gun-making. – (FREEMAN)