More illegal guns seized, turned in in Abra

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet – The Cordillera policemen's drive against illegal guns in Abra netted another eight firearms apparently being used for “terror” in the province.

Just this month, Cordillera police director Chief Supt. Benjamin Magalong said at least eight firearms were either seized or surrendered to authorities.

"The proliferation of loose firearms has remained a critical obstacle in the maintenance of peace and order since majority of all crime incidents involved the use of loose/unregistered firearms that could compromise  security preparations for next year’s elections,” he said.

Last Dec. 8, a 19-year old Edgardo Bonete from Langiden town in Abra was seized in a checkpoint in Sinalang, Bangued.

The suspected “hitman” was driving a Honda XRM motorcycle with two back riders when they were flagged down by the policemen.  A caliber 45 Armscor pistol bearing serial number 1111733 with two magazines and fifteen bullets were found with him.

Meanwhile, Tayum town policemen on routine patrol recovered last Dec. 8 in Dongadong, Barangay Pias one homemade caliber 45 pistol without a serial number and loaded with one bullet.

On Dec. 11, 25-year old driver Justine Batoon from Bucloc town and a minor were nabbed inside a videoke bar in Bangued for bringing with them a caliber 9mm Taurus pistol bearing serial number TSA14375 with one magazine loaded with 14 bullets and a caliber 45 Bul M-5 pistol bearing serial number 187782 with one magazine inserted loaded with 10 bullets.

In Benguet, also on Dec. 11, Buguias town policemen discovered a  caliber 22 “paltik” revolver with no markings at the stockroom of Yap Building, in Abatan, Buguias, Benguet while conducting foot patrol. 

On Dec. 2, in Mountain Province, 25-year-old farmer Bokobo Calis reported to policemen that he stumbled into a vintage bomb  while weeding at their resident at witio Pey-asan, Otucan Sur, Bauko town.

Magalong said that the “turn-in campaign” of illegal and loose guns in the region has gained as on Dec. 5,  Barangay Councilor Crisostomo Peralta Tejero, 52, voluntarily surrendered a caliber 38 homemade revolver to the Lagangilang police.

On the next day, an 18-year old Citizen Armed Force Geographical Unit assigned at Barangay Caganayan, in Tineg, also voluntarily surrendered a 12 gauge homemade shotgun to the Tineg town police while Barangay Chairman Baldwin Ban-o Lanas of Bacooc, Lagangilang town also voluntarily surrendered another 12 gauge shotgun.