Suspect admits being a gunrunner but denies heading a robbery group

CEBU, Philippines - A former soldier of the Armed Forces of the Philippines based in Cagayan de Oro was nabbed by operatives of the Provincial Intelligence Branch yesterday dawn in his residence at barangay Sudlonon, Bogo City.

Leonardo “Alex or Leo” Tabasan, 47, a native of barangay Puntod, Cagayan de Oro and believed to be the leader of a notorious robbery group in Mindanao, was positively identified by one of his cohorts who were also arrested last Friday.

His arrest was by virtue of a warrant for illegal possession of firearms signed by Judge Edgar Chua of the Regional Trial Court- Third Judicial Region Branch 47 in San Fernando City, Pampanga on July 15, 2005.

Operatives recovered a caliber .45 Colt 1911 pistol, one magazine of caliber .45 pistol loaded with seven bullets, one spare magazine loaded with seven bullets, a hand grenade and four medium sachets of shabu.

The firearm will be subjected to a ballistic examination while the illegal drugs will be taken to the Philippine National Police Crime Laboratory for chemical analysis.

Tabasan tried to resist the arrest but was overpowered by the operatives.

Authorities believe that Tabasan just arrived from buying shabu when the raid was carried out about 2:20 in the morning.

Police Officer 3 Reynaldo Solante said that Tabasan was the last person who headed a big robbery group.

“Gun-for-hire ug tulis gyud ning ila,” Solante said.

 In an interview, Tabasan told The FREEMAN that he was a gun runner of somebody, whose name he withheld, in Danao City. The firearms will be transported to Luzon and Mindanao.

A percentage of what he earned served as his source of living. He also does errands for housing works.

He resigned last 1990 as member of the seaborne brigade in Zamboanga City and returned in Cagayan de Oro.

He, however, denied the allegations tagging him as either a gun-for-hire or a leader of a robbery group in Mindanao.

“Dili man sad ingon nga kung gikan ka sa army mao nana ang trabaho, wala koy grupo wala sad ko kaila adtong mga nadakpan,” Tabasan said. (It’s not true, I don’t even know the persons they arrested.)

Three suspected cohorts of Tabasan were arrested in a joint operation of the PIB, Special Reaction Unit, and Special Weapons and Tactics of the Lapu-Lapu City Police Office last Friday in barangay Bankal, Lapu-Lapu City.

Cousins Harold Hermosilla, 24, and Nelson Hermosilla, 24, as well as Eldie Flores, 24, all of Zamboanga del Sur were arrested. Confiscated from them were several drug paraphernalia, four sachets of shabu, two motorcycles, two caliber .45 pistols, two magazines loaded with 12 bullets, and a .38 revolver loaded with five bullets.

Cebu Provincial Police Office Director Patrocinio Comendador will not discount the possibility of the suspects’ involvement in the killing of businessman Antonio Ouano and the massacre of an alleged Kuratong Baleleng gang member Fernando Canillo and his family in Lapu-Lapu City last June.

Since the arrest of Arman Tipontipon in Bogo City last Wednesday, the Mandaue City Police Office and the Lapu-Lapu City Police Office are continuously coordinating with the CPPO.

Charges for the violations of RA 9165 and RA 8294 will be charged against Tabasan who will be temporarily detained at the Compostela police stockade. — (FREEMAN)