Charges filed vs suspected guns-for-hire

CEBU, Philippines - For waiving their right to undergo preliminary investigation to answer the allegations filed against them, three men accused of being guns-for hire are facing charges for illegal possession of firearms filed by the Cebu Provincial Prosecutor’s Office.

 Prosecutor Nelia Sistoso recommended the filing of illegal possession of firearms charges against Gerondio Lantecsi, Francisco Ariba and Reneboy Tariao before the court.

 “That on the basis of the sworn statements and evidence submitted by the (police), there exists a reasonable ground to believe that the crime has been committed and that the accused is probably guilty thereof. The accused not having opted to avail of his/their right to preliminary investigation pursuant to Article 125 of the Revised Penal Code,” she said.

 Sistoso recommended P80,000  bail for Lantecsi; P60,000 for Tariao and P80,000 for Ariba.

 The recommended bail of the respondents differed due to the seized items from their possession. The police recovered from Lantecsi, one .45 pistol with serial No. 866315 with two magazines and 12 live ammunitions. For Tariao, the police only recovered eight pieces of live ammunitions and for Ariba, police recovered one .45 pistol, two magazines and 13 live ammunitions.

 Lantecsi and Ariba have no permit to carry such firearms.

 On November 6, 2012, the police arrested Lanticse, 33; Villanueva, 31 and Airene Responso, 23, all from Barangay Pulpugan, Consolacion and Tariao, 39 of Barangay Poblacion, Danao City for having in possession the said firearms, ammunitions and drugs paraphernalia.

 The respondents were arrested after a concerned citizen reported to the police about the suspicious group at around 8:30 in the morning inside a lodging house in Sitio Galong, Barangay Poblacion, Alegria.

 The police suspect them to members of a gun-for-hire group and could also be in the illegal drug trade based on the evidence recovered.

 Moreover, in an inquest resolution, Sistoso dismissed the complaint filed against Responso for lack of probable cause.

 “Considering that the arrest of the accused Responso is not in accordance with Section 5 of Rule 113 of the Revised Rules of Court on warrantless arrest, the undersigned believes that her inclusion with the other accused is illegal and has no basis,” the resolution reads.

 Upon inquiry with the arresting officer, Sistoso said she found out that the police arrested Responso because she was together with Ariba who was arrested for illegal possession of firearms. Responso was arrested as cohorts of Ariba. During the arrest, Responso did not commit any crime.

 Meanwhile, Lantecsi was also charged for violation of Section 12 of Republic Act 9165 or illegal possession of drugs paraphernalia.

Sistoso recommended P40,000 bail for this charge against Lantecsi. — (FREEMAN)