Guns seized from vice mayor’s aide

The security chief and three other aides of a Cavite vice mayor were apprehended during a joint checkpoint operation at the Coastal tollgate by elements of the local police and military at noontime yesterday in Parañaque City.

The team, led Police Inspector Bernard Lao of Police Community Precinct 2, said aides Arsenio Inocentes Jr., 45, chief security officer; Rodolfo Ramos, 42, driver; Victorino Yap, 45, driver; and Danny Boy Despi, driver/security aide, were taken to the Parañaque City police headquarters following the arrest.

The four are reportedly personnel of Bacoor Vice Mayor Edwin Malvar. Police recovered two caliber .45 pistols with 20 live ammunition and an M-16 rifle with a magazine containing 30 rounds of live ammunition.

"Our officers apprehended them because they could no present their licenses and permits to carry as required by law. We are also puzzled why they were in possession of a long firearm when they are only civilians," Superintendent Ronald Estilles, Parañaque City police chief.

The suspects told police they were supposed to deliver the Baby Armalite to a certain SPO1 Bustamante of Bacoor, who was in Metro Manila at that time. They also claimed to have the pertinent documents of the firearms. They were later able to show licenses for the pistols, but not the permits to carry.

Police also recovered from the suspects three identification cards issued by the Office of the Vice Mayor of Bacoor and signed by Malvar. However, Estilles said they still have to verify if the suspects are indeed employed by his office.

A National Anti-Kidnapping Task Force (NAKTAF) team, consisting of 10 Parañaque policemen, led by Lao and 10 men under Lieutenant Erwin Coronado of the 80th Infantry Division of the Army, were randomly inspecting vehicles passing through the tollgate when they spotted a white Toyota Revo bearing government plates (SFV-947) at around 1:10 p.m. The vehicle with lightly tinted windows and a siren was moving at high speed on the northbound lane.

Lao said he decided to stand in the middle of the road to block the approaching vehicle. "When the vehicle stopped, I asked the passenger where they were heading. It was then that I noticed that a rifle was lying on the floor and I asked them to step out of the vehicle."

Estilles said they would file charges of illegal possession of firearms against the suspects if they fail to produce the required papers.

The suspects were presented before Chief Superintendent Prospero Noble Jr., Southern Police District (SPD) director, late yesterday afternoon.

"This is a result of our tightened checkpoint operations, following reports that some (criminals) still manage to elude detection," Noble said.