Six teams of NBI operatives simultaneously implemented six search warrants issued by judge Geraldine Faith Econg of the Lapu-Lapu City Regional Trial Court against Virgilio Amorin Sr., Delfin Amorin, Marcela Amorin, Roberto Lumapas, Reynaldo Lumapas and Richard Otara for violation of the Philippine Fisheries Code of 1998.
Three of the six subjects were found positive of ammonium nitrate -an explosive ingredient- and several blasting caps. The NBI operatives found two sacks of ammonium nitrate and several blasting caps in the house of Marcela Amorin, several packs ready for distribution were also found in the houses of Virgilio Amorin Sr., 59, and Reynaldo Lumapas, 41.
Marcela was not around during the raid but Virgilio Amorin Jr., 28, and 14-year-old boy was arrested inside the house. The other houses part of the search yielded no contraband.
The delay in the arrival of the raiding team contributed to the negative results of some of the targets. The raiding team did not arrive in the island on time as targeted because they lost their way in the dark heading to the island.
The team was supposed to arrive in the island before daybreak, but because of the incident they reached the area already at past 7:00 a.m. in plain view of the people including the suspects themselves.
Virgilio Sr. admitted to selling ammonium nitrate for a living but refused to reveal his supplier.
He said these are just delivered to them from people allegedly from Talisay City. Virgilio Sr. said it is sold to them at P5,000 per sack while they repack it and sell it at P100 per pack.
The NBI yesterday asked the Firearms and Explosives, Security and Guards Supervision Section of the Philippine National Police to check their records if the suspects are licensed dealers of explosive ingredients.
The NBI is expected to file charges today against the suspects for violation of Section 88 of the Republic Act 8550 otherwise known as the Philippine Fisheries Code of 1998 before the Lapu-Lapu City Prosecutors Office.
The NBI will also file charges for illegal possession of explosive ingredients against them should the PNP records show that they are not authorized dealers of ammonium nitrates.