Shooting suspect’s house yields guns

CEBU, Philippines - Police have seized assorted high-powered firearms, bullets and drug paraphernalia in a raid on the house of a shooting suspect in Sitio Sampaguita, Barangay Tejero, Cebu City early morning yesterday.

But the suspect, Harold Dequitos, a resident of Villagonzalo II, eluded arrest.

Police instead found inside his house a KG9 9mm Luger pistol, an empty magazine and two silencers, a shotgun, a caliber 22 rifle with scope and silencer, assorted bullets, a samurai with scabbard, two black holsters, a .45 air soft handgun, a bulletproof vest, two iron knuckles, and drug paraphernalia.

A Waterfront Police Station team led by Chief Insp. Wildemar Tiu rushed to the area upon receiving a call from the Cebu City Medical Center informing them of a certain Roel Tampus who was shot.

Tiu said Tampus admitted that Dequitos shot him past 5 a.m.

Initial police investigation disclosed that Tampus, 30, of Barangay Marigondon, Lapu-Lapu City, was walking when shot by Dequitos. He was hit in his right breast and underarm.

Tiu believed that illegal drugs could be the motive of the shooting.

Based on police records, Dequitos is a leader of a gun-for-hire gang and a big time drug pusher in the city.

Dequitos, who has been in and out of prison, was arrested by the City Intelligence Branch in May 2011 for possession of illegal drugs.

In April 2012, he was imprisoned at the Cebu City Jail for murder and illegal possession of firearm.

In July of the same year, another case was filed against him after he reportedly stabbed a fellow inmate.

Following yesterday’s raid, another criminal case will be filed against Dequitos as police are set to check on the status of his other cases.

Indiscriminate firing

Meanwhile, in Carcar City, a police official was accused of indiscriminate firing during a land dispute in Barangay Cogon yesterday morning.

Carcar City Police Station personnel, led by Chief Insp. Ricky Delilis, responded to the alarm but failed to arrest Senior Insp. Alvin Allonar of the Regional Health Service Office (RHSO)-7.

Delilis said the incident occurred when Allonar learned that his perimeter fence was destroyed by an unidentified man.

“Initially mao ra na akong nakuha nga info kay wala na mi mag-apil-apil sa ilang land dispute,” Delilis said.

Due to anger, Allonar took his M16 rifle and opened fire twice. However, no one was hit.

Allonar then went to the police station to report the incident bringing along his issued 9mm pistol.

When police asked for his pistol to be deposited, Allonar refused and immediately fled despite Delilis trying to stop him by firing a warning shot.

Police said they would file appropriate case against Allonar. — /LPM (FREEMAN)