Siblings arrested while making guns

CEBU, Philippines - Two siblings were arrested after they were caught in the act of illegally manufacturing guns in Barangay Taboc, Danao City.

Operatives of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) 7 were armed with a search warrant when they arrested Ronito Pasana, 41, and his brother Tomas Pasana, 46, at their residence in sitio Tac-an at past 3 p.m.

Judge Teresita Galanida of the Regional Trial Court Branch 56 in Mandaue City issued the warrant for violation of Presidential Decree 1866 as amended by Republic Act 8294 or the law on illegal possession of firearms.

CIDG 7 chief Ritchie Posadas said the operation yielded unlicensed firearms, several magazines, ammunitions, and gun-making machines.

Among those recovered were three firearms of different calibers, over 150 live ammunitions, barrels, metal pattern, magazines that amounted to at least P20,000, push drill worth P12,000, and a metal grinder that costs P25,000, among others, Posadas said.

The search was reportedly witnessed by Taboc barangay tanods Joel Almendras and Junriel Ypil.

Among those seized were newly-manufactured magazines for a caliber .25 pistols, Posadas said.

The CIDG 7 chief identified Ronito as a known supplier of gun magazines in the nearby municipality of Danao.

“Three years na sila nag-manufacture og mga pusil especially magazines. Usa sila sa mga dagkong supplier og magazines diha,” Posadas disclosed.

Posadas said the suspects were caught flat-footed and no longer resisted.  Ronito admitted to the crime and even shared earning some P1,500 from manufacturing gun parts in a week.

“Mas sayon man gud kung naa ra ka magtrabaho sa balay,” Ronito claimed, when asked why he pushed through such business despite being illegal. Obtaining papers to legalize his livelihood source was also difficult, he said.

The suspects were detained and will acquire temporary liberty if they post bail, said Posadas.

A number of gun manufacturers have been arrested and gun parts and gun-making machines seized in a series of operations carried out by police lately, an effort to intensify their campaign against loose firearm in preparation for the barangay and SK elections on October.  (FREEMAN)