3 cops’ kin face gun, drug raps

MANILA, Philippines - The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) on Friday filed charges for illegal possession of firearms and drugs against six suspected members of a gang engaged in contract killing, including three alleged relatives of police officials assigned in General Santos City.

Charged were Conrado Rojo, Ernesto Rojo, Nestor Sua, Alvin Celis, Donald Montemayor and Bryan Cortado, said NBI acting assistant regional director Noel Morales.

The charges for violating the Dangerous Drugs Act and transport and possession of illegal firearms were filed with the city prosecutor’s office.

Celis, Conrado and Sua reportedly tested positive for drug use.

Conrado is reportedly a brother of Inspector Rey Rojo, assistant commander of the city police’s Precinct 7, while Ernesto is their cousin.

Sua is said to be a brother of Superintendent Leo Sua, who is assigned with the city’s public safety office.

The NBI said Nestor is the subject of an arrest warrant for murder and frustrated homicide, adding they are checking the records of the other suspects. 

Morales said last Sept. 30, they only intended to arrest Conrado based on a warrant issued in 1992 for murder, but the NBI agents found him along with five other men in a van that they intercepted in Barangay Labangal.

The men were reportedly found carrying four firearms that included a caliber .38 revolver and three unregistered caliber .45 pistols. The revolver was registered under a security agency.

 “We will subject the firearms to a ballistic test and cross-matching to determine if these were used in previous crime incidents,” Morales said. 

He said they would also determine why the suspects were in the area. 

Also found in the suspects’ van were 50 grams of shabu in 14 plastic sachets, Morales said.