6 Magdalo supporters arrested, arms cache seized in Paco raid

The Philippine National Police (PNP) detained six suspected supporters of the July 27 military mutiny and seized an arms cache consisting of 11 high-powered firearms in a raid in Paco, Manila late Tuesday night.

A red armband and a flag similar to the ones used by the Magdalo group that staged the mutiny, as well as the uniform of a military reserve captain with the nameplate "Capt. Leonardo Sen" were allegedly seized from the LTS Building on Paz street, Western Police District director Chief Superintendent Pedro Bulaong said on dzBB radio.

PNP chief Director General Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. told a press briefing that Sen, alias Arvin Samaniego, 30, is believed to be a Magdalo group leader and claims to be a Marine reserve captain.

The arms cache was discovered by accident, Ebdane said, after residents reported gunfire from the building at 11:20 p.m. Tuesday through the "117" emergency hotline of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).

Sen was reportedly distraught and drunk when he began firing his gun from the terrace of his apartment. WPD Station 5 commander Senior Superintentendent Araceli Hofileña said Sen went wild after getting drunk over a three-week spat with his estranged wife.

The six-story building is owned by Sen’s parents, who were on the second floor of the building and refused to come out during the raid.

All the other suspects seemed drunk but calm when the police arrived.

The Paz Police Community Precinct of the WPD responded to the 117 call by sending a patrol unit to check on the reported gunshots. The law enforcers were met by a volley of gunfire, which damaged their patrol car.

A special weapons and tactics (SWAT) unit was dispatched to the building but was also fired upon by Sen before he locked himself up in his apartment, police said.

"We are investigating their possible connection to the Magdalo (group)," Bulaong said, referring to the name of the group of junior military officers and enlisted men who occupied the posh Oakwood Premier condotel in Makati City last July 27. The rebel soldiers surrendered to negotiators without bloodshed after a 22-hour standoff.

The other arrested suspects were identified as driver Reynold Llanas, 27, of Cainta, Rizal; businessman Edward Reyes, 29, of Cainta, Rizal; LTS Building’s live-in caretaker Jay de Guzman, 38; Pia Ragonron, 18, and Daniela Santos, 23.

Charges of indiscriminate firing, assault, damage to government property and illegal possession of firearms and ammunition are being prepared against the suspects.

However, all the suspects tested negative for gunpowder residue, though investigators said this is not enough proof that they did not fire a gun.

Bulaong said the suspects were detained by the SWAT unit that stormed the building. No casualties were reported on either side.

A background check showed Sen was arrested before for illegal possession of firearms in Camarines Sur in 2001 and has been under surveillance by the Rizal provincial police for alleged involvement in the operations of nightclubs in the province.

‘Government Arsenal’

Steel boxes of ammunition bore the marks "government arsenal" and "Department of National Defense."

Police also seized 10 firearms, including an M-14 sniper rifle with telescope and serial number 1386324 and thousands of rounds of ammunition, he said.

Other seized guns include: a caliber .22 rifle with telescope, a West German model 1451 caliber .22 rifle with serial number 137302; two dismantled M-16 riflesa caliber .357 paltik or homemade revolver, an Armscor caliber .38 revolver with serial number 47125, a Colt caliber .45 automatic with serial number CG19734, a caliber 22 magnum paltik, a 9-mm. Luger pistol with serial number 945-NX01501, an Armscor caliber .45 automatic and one slide for a caliber .45 automatic.

Also confiscated during the raid were two hand-held radios, two grenade launchers, a Sony video camera with accessories, a Magdalo armband, a Magdalo flag, four jungle knives, 24 arrows, two sets of military uniforms and a camera tripod.

The hand-held radios seized by police were set to the same frequency used by the Magdalo mutineers on July 27, police said.

Over 200 soldiers involved in the failed uprising have been detained and are to stand trial for the mutiny. The government has alleged that the rebellion was financed by certain opposition politicians, none of whom have been indicted.

No Political Color

Meanwhile, Malacañang belied reports that the Feliciano Commission report was rushed and timed for release just before the state visit of United States President George W. Bush on Oct. 18, Presidential Spokesman Ignacio Bunye said.

He added that the release of the 148-page Feliciano Commission report had nothing to do with the Bush visit.

"There is no point in trying to (inject) political color into this," he said, adding that to do so would be to do "disservice" to the members of the commission.

A Feliciano Commission member said the release of the report was originally set for Oct. 15, but they were asked to move it to Oct. 22 to coincide with President Arroyo’s return from the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Bangkok, Thailand.

"What is important is that the report was finally accomplished and its recommendations are being studied and considered as a basis for further actions and reforms," Bunye said.

Ploy Of Government

Meanwhile, Roel Pulido, a lawyer of the Magdalo soldiers, said the raid and arrest of the six suspected Magdalo supporters was a ploy of the government.

Pulido said the raid "was just (the government’s) ploy knowing that they have lost their credibility with what happened to the hearing yesterday at the Maniwang Commission and the reactions of the people (to) the Feliciano Commission in the last few days."

Magdalo group leaders refused to testify Tuesday before the Maniwang Commission tasked by the President with investigating the bomb attacks on the Davao International Airport and Sasa Wharf that left 38 people dead and 190 wounded.

Pulido said his clients invoked their "right to remain silent" before the Maniwang Commission as they questioned the "sincerity of the President" and not "the integrity and independent-mindedness of the commission."

He asked law enforcers to stop dragging his clients into this so-called discovery of a "Magdalo arms cache," saying the raid was illegal because it was conducted without a search warrant.

"Will they please stop using the word(s) ‘in full view’ — that they saw the flag and guns in full view. It sounds ridiculous," the lawyer said.

"They said (Sen) was charged (with) indiscriminate firing," Pulido said. "If there was an armory, would you fire your gun indiscriminately?" — With Mayen Jaymalin, Pamela Samia, Christina Mendez, AFP