Firearms seized in Sorsogon checkpoint

LEGAZPI CITY, Philippines – At least 17 short firearms hidden under the driver’s seat of a roll-on roll-off (ro-ro) passenger bus bound for Manila were confiscated before nighfall on Sunday in a checkpoint in Barangay Putiao, Pilar, Sorsogon, the police reported yesterday.

Senior Superintendent Roberto Olitoquit, Sorsogon police director, said that 14 pieces of .38 caliber revolvers and three 45 pistols were found concealed inside the driver’s seat of a ro-ro passenger bus (TXB-911) when it was flagged down in a checkpoint following a tip-off from Cebu intelligence operatives that the unlicensed firearms were on board the bus and would pass Sorsogon.

Olitoquit said that bus drivers George Guitones Jr. and Victor Gonzales were both detained in Pilar jail while charges of illegal possession of firearms, in violation of R.A. 8294, was already being prepared for filing before the Sorsogon prosecutor’s office yesterday.

Olitoquit said their group immediately set up the checkpoint in response to a reliable tip that the bus was carrying illegally transported guns.

He said that the ro-ro bus came from the Visayas and had to take the mainland Bicol route to reach Metro Manila.

Olitoquit said they were still conducting further investigation to determine the masterminds behind this gun smuggling activities.