Drive vs. illegal guns continues in Abra

BAGUIO CITY, Philippines  – The drive against illegal guns continue especially in Abra even after the May 13 polls with authorities netting four pistol-packing men.

With the gun ban still in effect until June 12, three men were nabbed in Abra while one was collared in Benguet over the past several days.

After a brief shootout, policemen seized “gun-for-hire” group member Ronron Valera Gabino, 21, from Bucloc town, with a caliber 45 pistol bearing serial number BA22952-09-246 with magazine loaded with five rounds ammunition, one hand grenade, one heat-sealed plastic sachet of suspected shabu with a street value of  P1,000, and two heat-sealed plastic bags of suspected dried marijuana leaves with a street value of P500 each. 

Abra police director Sr. Supt. Benjamin Lusad said Gabino, who is also a suspected illegal drug peddler, tried to shoot it out with policemen but was hit on the leg by pursuing cops.

Gabino was charged with Violation of RA 9165 and Comelec Resolution number 9561-A (gun ban).

Still in Abra, a 15-year old minor from Bucay town, Abra was arrested along a checkpoint in Rizal St. Corner Dangdangla-Cosili Rd, Zone-7, Bangued, Abra on May 24.    

The  minor was flagged down while riding on a Yamaha Mio motorcycle without plate number.  Policemen while on the course of engaging the driver for his failure to show his driver’s license and pertinent documents of the motorcycle, saw a grip of a gun tucked on his waist, prompting them to search the suspect.

A caliber .25 Pietro Berreta Pistol bearing serial number DAA189971 with one inserted magazine loaded with three bullets, one suspected heat sealed plastic sachet of dried marijuana leaves, two pieces of glass pipe and two butane  lighters were seized from him.

Still in Abra, Bangued town police nabbed 24-year-old farmer Renato Bicera Bayquen from barangay Bacsil-Angad, while conducting mobile patrol. Bayquen was flagged down on board a Euro motorcycle with no plate number. Police noticed a handgrip of a gun tucked on his waist.  Seized was a cal. 45 pistol (Colt) with serial number 974315 loaded with one magazine and five bullets.

In Benguet, policemen arrested a drunk male customer at the Cuarog Liquor store located at Olo-an Building, Abatan, Buguias, after he allegedly drew a gun tucked on his waist and pointed the same to other customers of the establishment.

Driver Erickson Bataclao Andres, 33, from Amgaleyguey, Buguias is now facing charges for packing a caliber.45  pistol bearing Serial No. 175234 with one magazine loaded with six bullets.

Cordillera police director Chief Superintendent Benjamin Magalong, hailed the unceasing efforts of all policemen in the Cordillera strictly implementing the gun ban.

However,  despite these efforts, a 58-year old farmer was gunned down by  still unidentified gunmen who suddenly broke into his house and shot him while he was watching television at barangay Damoyco, Peñarrubia in Abra last Friday night.

Farmer Severo Damasen Lanas, 58, was watching television inside his house when the gunmen opened the kitchen  window  and used it as entry and peppered the victim with bullets.

Police said the victim sustained four gunshot wounds, one on his head and three on his body.