3 “criminal-hunters” arrested

CEBU, Philippines - Operatives of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group-7, who were supposed to be responding to an armed person alarm, instead arrested three others, including a minor, who were allegedly playing as cops looking for armed persons in Barangay Cantipla, Cebu City. 

Leonardo Lumukso, was arrested after CIDG-7 operatives caught him carrying a 9mm submachine gun, while Reneboy Gapitan Sr., and his 17-year-old son, had a .45 caliber pistol each.

Superintendent Marlon Tayaba, CIDG-7 chief, said in an interview that CIDG detectives were responding to an armed person alarm in Barangay Cantipla when they happened to see Lumukso and the Gapitans.

The three were allegedly looking for armed men in the area and when CIDG detectives saw them, they immediately approached the operatives which resulted to a scuffle.  Lumukso and the Gapitans resisted at first but were subdued by the police officers and were immediately placed under arrest.

Tayaba said that they will check the background of the three to determine why they were armed, particularly Lumukso who had a submachine gun.

Tayaba said they are eyeing the possibility that the three were involved in robberies and were also guns-for-hire.

The seized firearms will be submitted for ballistic examination to check if they were used in previous crimes, said Tayaba.

He said that they will also check if the three have pending warrants of arrest or criminal records.

Tayaba said that when the suspects were asked why they were carrying weapons, they said that it’s for their own protection.

 “Ito yung di nila masagot nung tinatanong namin sabi nila ‘it’s for their own protection.’ But why nandoon sila sa lugar na di naman sila taga doon,” Tayaba said.

When Lumukso was interviewed by reporters, he said that they were verifying the presence of armed persons in the place.

Lumukso explained that he is only helping the government by reporting criminals and conducting surveillance in the mountainous areas of Balamban and Cebu City.

He said that the incident was just a misunderstanding and that the firearms that the police confiscated are legal and he is authorized to carry them.

Lumukso showed a mission order issued from the Domestic Intelligence Force of the ISAFP.

However, the mission order expired on August 31, 2015. But Lumukso was quick to defend that a new mission order has been issued and the copy is on its way.

For his part, Gapitan Sr., said that he does not have a license for the firearm and neither does his son. He added that he was asked by Lumukso, who is his neighbor, to accompany him to verify reports of armed person.

The three are now detained at the CIDG-7 headquarters at Camp Sotero Cabahug along Gorordo Avenue, Cebu City.  — (FREEMAN)