Arms cache seized by NBI in Mandaluyong

Agents of the National Bureau of Investigation seized a cache of high-powered firearms and ammunition in a raid conducted on a security agency in Mandaluyong City last week.

The seized guns and ammunition, which were presented yesterday by NBI director Reynaldo Wycoco to media, included 40 M16 rifles, mostly with tampered serial numbers; two caliber .30 carbines; 121 shotguns; 70 .38 caliber revolvers; 33 M16 magazines; and various ammunition.

Wycoco said the arms cache was seized last Aug. 15 by agents of the bureau’s National Capital Region office under agent Edmund Arugay during a raid on the Able Security Agency located at 410 Jovan Condominium on Shaw Boulevard.

According to Wycoco, prior to the raid, they received information that the security agency was illegally keeping an armory of high-powered guns.

Armed with a search warrant issued by Quezon City Judge Monina Zenarosa, agents raided the security agency. They identified the general manager of the security agency as Corazon Arenas.

"This is enough to arm a small battalion. You could just imagine the damage that it could bring."

Wycoco said that the agency allegedly tampered with the serial numbers of many of the guns. Wycoco said that though the agency had permits covering some of the guns, they allegedly tampered with the guns and replicated the serial numbers to conform with the permits.

Charges for illegal possession of guns and ammunition were filed by the NBI with the Department of Justice against Arenas and 14 other directors of the Able Security Agency.

Meanwhile, an alleged hold-up man was shot dead Thursday afternoon by the security guard of a convenience store in Caloocan City.

Victim Aleman Manalo, 28, was taken to the Pagamutang Bayan ng Malabon but was pronounced dead on arrival by attending physicians, the police said.

Richard Bamuya, 25, of the Metro Security and Allied Services voluntarily surrendered to the police.

Case investigator Senior Police Officer 2 Ronald Mendoza of the Caloocan Station Investigation and Intelligence Division (SIID) said that the incident happened at around 4 p.m.

Manalo reportedly went into the Time-out Convenience Store on Dagat-Dagatan Avenue, pretending to be a customer. Store cashier Celia Salonzo told investigators that Manalo approached her and with his right hand on his waist as if to draw a gun, announced the hold up.

Terrified, Salonzo said she screamed for help, prompting the victim to dash out of the store.

But Bamuya and another employee ran after Manalo. A few minutes later and for inexplicable reasons, however, Bamuya and the employee found themselves being chased by Manalo. — Mike Frialde and Nikko Dizon