City cop nabbed; raid on his house yields

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines — A policeman assigned at the Intelligence Division of the Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) was arrested by authorities, after four firearms and thousands of ammunition were seized during a raid of his house Wednesday afternoon, the NBI said.

SPO1 Ricarido Rex Noble was arrested by the combined elements of NBI-Region 6, NBI-Bacolod, and the 303rd Infantry Brigade on the strength of a search warrant issued by Iloilo City RTC-Branch 24 Judge Danilo Galvez for illegal possession of firearm, according to NBI-6 director Manuel Almendares.

Recovered from Noble, a resident of Brgy. Pahanocoy of this city, were a .45 caliber pistol, a .9 mm caliber pistol, and M-14 and M-16 rifles, Almendares said.

The police also recovered two .45-caliber magazines with 15 ammunition, a .9mm-caliber magazine with 13 ammunitions, four M-16 rifle long empty magazines and three M-16 rifle short empty magazine, nine M-14 magazines, 145 rounds for M-14 rifle and 170 rounds for M-16 rifle, said Almendares.

Almendares said that last April 8 they received a certification from the Firearms and Explosives Division of the Philippine National Police (PNP) in Camp Crame that Noble have unlicensed firearms.

Charges for violation of Section 1 of the Republic Act 8294, or illegal possession of firearms, was filed against Noble, before the Bacolod City Prosecutor’s Office Wednesday.

Robles may also face administrative charges since he is a member of the PNP, and charges for violation of the Comelec gun ban, Almendares said.

Noble, who did not resist arrest, told the media that all the firearms seized during the raid have licenses, which he will present in court to clear his name.

He said he had no idea why his house was raided, and that he could not avoid people who make allegations against him. “As far as I know, I don’t have any enemies. I am just doing my job as a policeman. I intend to return these firearms because I will be retiring in November this year,” he said.

BCPO spokesman Supt. Armando Tubongbanua said, “The firearms are all documented. We are here to support him. But (Noble) has to face whatever the consequences if he committed any unlawful act.” (FREEMAN)