3 men arrested with guns, drugs

CEBU, Philippines - Three persons were arrested for illegal possession of firearms and illegal drugs in Madridejos and Danao City.

Edgar de los Santos Mercado, 52, of Beatriz Village, Barangay Poblacion Danao City was apprehended on Friday after a caliber .45 pistol was seen tucked in his waist inside the Danao Police Station.

Mercado was arrested after police noticed the gun tucked in his waist.

 He went to the police station because authorities were conducting an investigation on his landlord’s complaint that one of his boarders was using illegal drugs inside the residence.

 In an interview, PO1 Faran Avila said they were investigating some of the landlord’s boarders when one of the policemen noticed Mercado’s gun which was tucked in his waist.

 The police officer verified what he saw and further asked for the permit of the said gun. However, Mercado failed to present the necessary documents which led to his arrest.

According to Avila, they are currently preparing the necessary charges against Mercado which they will file on Monday. The suspect is currently detained at Danao Police station.

Meanwhile, Ramon Villacrusis, 70, of Sitio Romblon and house helper Jesus “Chuck-Chuck” Bautista, 32, both from barangay Malbago, Madridejos, Cebu were apprehended yesterday for illegal possession of firearms at 1 a.m.

The arrest came after authorities received reports of armed persons sleeping along the seashore of the said barangay near the house of Councilman Don-don Ferrer.

When the police arrived in the said place, they saw the two suspects and invited both to the police station.

In the presence of the tipster, a certain Unyok Macose, the police frisked Villacrusis and Bautista and recovered more than firearms.

The police seized from the two suspects a 9 mm caliber pistol, a magazine with 10 live ammunitions and two packs of white crystalline substance believed to be shabu hidden inside a small plastic container.

Mercado will face charges for violating provisions of Republic Act 8294 or the Firearms Law together with Villacrusis and Bautista.

Both Villacrusis and Bautista will also face charges for violating provisions of R.A. 9165 also known as the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002. (FREEMAN)