Two broadcasters charged for illegal gun possession

The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group-7 filed charges of illegal possession of firearms before the City Prosecutor's Office against two blocktime radio commentators they arrested last Friday afternoon in barangay Mantuyong, Mandaue City.

Only the violations for carrying firearms and ammunitions without the required Permit to Carry Firearms Outside Residence were filed against Roberto Juanico and Ruperto Navasca, blocktimers of dyRB who were arrested after flagging down a cargo truck last Friday.

Chief Inspector Fermin Armendares III of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group-7 who led the arrest said they cannot include robbery or extortion charges against the two since the complainants did not come to their office to file formal complaints against the two broadcasters.

"Dili nato maapil ang robbery-extortion kay wala man mopakita ang complainant, di sad nato maapil ang usurpation kay ma-carry naman sa illegal possession of firearms," Armendares said.

Police said they received a telephone call from a woman who only identified herself as "Noreen" who complained that two men who claimed to be members of the CIDG-7 flagged down their cargo truck along the road in Mantuyong.

Armendares then called on CIDG-7 chief S/Supt. Jorge Corpuz regarding the incident and learned that there were no operations being conducted by the unit at that time in the said area.

When CIDG operatives led by Armendares went to the area to check the report they saw a truck loaded with sacks of rice and two armed men sitting on a motorcycle near the parked truck.

The policemen approached and identified themselves as CIDG-7 personnel and inquired about their identities. Navasca reportedly told them that they were members of the Maritime Group and even identified himself as "Major Sebusa," but when the police asked for their identification cards they handed only identification cards of Maritime Group confidential agents, specifically members of the Coastal Barangay Information Network of the 701st Maritime Police Station based in Ouano Wharf.

Police then arrested them for failing to show legal documents for carrying firearms and initially for usurpation of authority by using the CIDG-7's name.

The two reportedly gave the policemen their firearm licenses, a privilege to own a gun legally, but both had no permit to carry guns outside their residences.

Police also found another identification card of Navasca that reportedly identified him as a member of the Military Intelligence Group-7.

Their lawyer Manuel Monson said that it was just a "plain case of misunderstanding."

He said the two might just have been too dedicated and overzealous to do their jobs and flagged down the said truck but did not explain the nature of their acts in flagging down the said truck.

Mandaue City Mayor Thadeo Ouano defended the two saying they were his consultants in the campaign against the illegal drugs in the city. - Edwin Ian Melecio