CIDG files illegal possession raps vs 13 gun manufacturers

CEBU, Philippines - The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group-7 yesterday filed a criminal complaint for illegal possession of firearms against 13 members of a Danao City gun manufacturing cooperative who were caught operating with an expired permit.

The complaint for violation of the Republic Act 8294 otherwise known as illegal possession of firearm was filed before the Danao City Prosecutor’s Office against Edita Villacarillo, 49, of PJ Almendras St.; Teofilo Tito, 58, of highway Looc; Warlito Hontilla, 39, of Cogon Cruz; Adelino Giangan, 42, of San Jose, Guinsay; Nolie Capuyan, 32, of Sabang; Rey Capote, 26, of Cambanay; Larry Enriquez, 40, of Kabulihan; Maximo Delgado Jr., 37, of Guinsay, and Wilson Alqueza, 46, of Guinsay, all from Danao City. Diosdado Tagalog, 41, of Cotcot and Jimelo Montes, 29, of Catarman, all of Liloan town. Marvin Camanse, 21, and Rodilo Camanse, 32, both of Cantipay, Carmen.

They were arrested in Barangay Dungoan last Wednesday during a raid conducted by the CIDG operatives based on a search warrant issued by Regional Trial Court Judge Silvestre Maamo.

The CIDG operatives seized an estimated P6 million worth of assorted firearms and gun manufacturing paraphernalia.

Among the items seized during the raid were a 30-06 rifle, KG-9 automatic machine pistol, two shotguns, two caliber .22 rifles, seven assorted revolvers, RG9 cal. 8mm; Black Widow cal. 22 revolver, 28 pcs. of Caliber .45 unfinished assembly, 34 pcs of unfinished assembly of .38 revolver, 10 pcs silencers for different calibers, 30 pcs of assorted magazines, three sacks containing assorted spare parts of firearms, 50 pcs hand grips of different firearms; seven steel saw, three pcs lathe machines, eight drill press machines, three bench drills, three grinding machines, two engraver machines, five swivel vises, seven milling machines, surface grinder machine, buffing machine, shaper machine, and six hammers.

The suspects are members of the Workers League of Danao or WORLD, which is one of the licensed gun manufacturers in Danao City. However, the cooperative failed to renew its license which expired last December.

CIDG-7 chief Jose Pante said the seizure of the assorted firearms and paraphernalia including the manufacturing machine somehow lessen the problem of loose firearms.

“Kahit sino pwede makabili at ang baril ay napupunta at nagagamit ng kahit na sino sa maling paraan,” Pante said. (FREEMAN)