Ex-American serviceman, 7 pals nabbed for arms cache

BACOLOD CITY — A former US Marine lieutenant was arrested in Sagay City last Thursday night after he and seven Filipino companions were found with a cache of unlicensed weapons, police said.

Russ Robinson, 31, from San Jose, California, and seven Filipinos were in possession of 9-mm. pistols, two M-16 rifles, one Uzi machine gun and rifle grenades when their two cars were stopped at a police checkpoint in Sagay, 82 kilometers from this Negros Occidental city.

Robinson is married to a Filipina, Janette Segon, who owns Blue Eagle Force, a security company here.

He and his companions — mostly employees of his wife’s security agency — were on their way to an island resort when they were stopped, said Superintendent Norberto Boston, Sagay City police chief.

Arrested along with Robinson were Olive Samodal, 24; Laiza Pepito, 19; Danilo Saludo, 47, Emmanuel Yasay, 24; George Liu, 54; Reynaldo Jardeleza, 26; and Dionisio Beboso, 45.

Boston said the weapons were unlicensed and charges were pending. Three of the men, including Robinson, were released on bail. — Antonieta Lopez