Police arrest two robbery suspects, seize cache of firearms

DUMAGUETE CITY, Philippines  – Police authorities have arrested two robbery suspects and seized from them a cache of firearms during a raid early Tuesday morning in Mabinay town of Negros Oriental.

Superintendent Alet Virtucio, deputy provincial police director for administration, said the arrest was in line with the police’s relentless operations against the proliferation of loose firearms under Oplan Bakal.

Virtucio identified the suspects as Gavino Alocillo Academia, 49, married, and his younger brother, Romeo Academia alias Oming, 46, married. Both were residents of Barangay Campanun-an in Mabinay.

The search was conducted by Mabinay Police, headed by its chief, Insp. Leopoldo Ijan and members of the PNP’s 1st Coy RPSB7 based in that town, led by Insp. Armel Von Alegria.

Both teams served search warrant issued by Judge Candelario Gonzales of the 7th Judicial Region RTC-branch 45 in Bais City, dated September 12, on the premises of two houses owned by the suspects.

Seized from the house of Gavino were one shotgun (without serial number) with four rounds of 12-gauge live ammunition; a .38-caliber revolver (without serial number) with 12 rounds of live ammunition; two “alcoguns”; an airgun; and two teargas cylinders.

Confiscated from the house of Romeo were two .45-caliber pistols (SNs 613397 and 12375) with two magazines and 16 rounds of live ammunitions; two homemade shotguns; two (12-gauge shotgun-fired cartridges; and five sling arrows (Indian pana).

The Academia brothers were not able to present legal documents for the possession of the firearms and ammunition.

Virtucio said the two were suspects in the perpetration of a series of robbery incidents in Mabinay.  (FREEMAN)