Three nabbed for possessing high powered firearms

ORMOC CITY , Philippines — Three men were arrested in a mobile checkpoint along a highway in Brgy. Bantigue of this city at around 9:10 p.m. last Monday for illegal possession of high powered firearms, ammunitions and drug paraphernalia.

The suspects were identified as Mauro Dañas, 26, of Brgy. Liberty, Ricky Malinao, 30, of Brgy. District 20 of this city, and Marcelo Adorco, 36, of Villaba town in Leyte.

In the presence of Barangay Chairman Rodolfo Ramos and a media representative, the search of the suspect’s Vios car (temporary plate no. NIA 811) yielded an arsenal of high powered firearms.

These items, which were later confiscated from the suspects, were an M-16 armalite with 27 pieces of 5.56-caliber ammo on a magazine assembly; a Colt revolver (SN 082756); two magazine assemblies with a total of 28 ammos; a Colt .45-caliber pistol (SN 271843) with five bullets; seven magazine assemblies for long and short firearms—all with live ammos, three cellular phones; and drug paraphernalia such as improvised tooters.

Inspector Raul Sarabia, the checkpoint team leader, said they were in Bantigue when they flagged down the car after one policeman noticed it had temporary plates. As the police peered into the vehicle, PO2 Raquel Fernandez noticed a bandolier lying on the feet of the man on the car’s front passenger side.

Sarabia asked the suspects if they were policemen or soldiers, and the three said they were “Kerwin’s people” and were on their way to Brgy. Alta Vista. 

Sarabia, being new in Ormoc, only learned later that “Kerwin” was a known drug personality who is currently detained at the City Jail in Alta Vista, and was said to be well connected to a politician.

Investigator SPO4 Mark Ruita told The Freeman that the police are filing charges of illegal possession of high powered firearms and ammunition, as well as possession of illegal drug paraphernalia against the suspects. (FREEMAN)