2 guns-for-hire fall, one a minor

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu City police have arrested two alleged guns-for-hire in a follow-up operation Thursday night in Barangay Tejero.

Police seized several guns from John (not his real name), 17, and Sigfredo Gagani, 39, residents of sitio Villagonzalo 2, Barangay Tejero.

Chief Inspector Romeo Santander, head of the City Intelligence Branch (CIB), said that he received a text message from a concerned citizen that the suspect of the February 13 shooting incident in Tejero was around the area.

They are supposed to conduct an operation against a suspected drug pusher, Harold Dequitos, who turned out to be John’s and Gagani’s boss.

Dequitos managed to elude arrest through the backdoor of his house while John and Gagani were arrested after a short chase inside John’s residence.

Santander added that the two suspects did not resist arrest from the authorities.

Police recovered from John a .45 caliber pistol and ammunitions while a .45 caliber pistol, magazines, and ammunitions were seized from Gagani’s possession.

Santander said that they saw Dequitos fixing his firearms inside the house that prompted them to accost him but he jumped and ran away.

Recovered inside Dequitos’ house were a hand grenade, a shotgun, KG9, frontier revolver, .38 revolvers and assorted magazines.

Dequitos was arrested previously for his alleged involvement in an illegal drug but he was able to post bail.

Santander said Dequitos is also suspected to be involved in the several killing incidents in Tejero.

He said that based on their investigation, the minor told them that he just follow what Dequitos asked him to do.

The police identified the minor suspect through a picture of him holding a gun on his Facebook account.

He added that computer games might have enticed the minor. Aside from having no parents to guide him, Santander said the minor did no longer go to school.

Intelligence reports also said that most of the minors in the city are recruited for snatching and pick pocketing around Mango Square area.

Santander said that the Juvenile Justice Law has contributed so much to the problem the police are facing regarding juvenile delinquents.

Santander said that John has become a gun for hire. In fact, John was the suspect in the killing of Serry Soco Tapales, a waiter, on February 13.

Santander said that the arrest of John and Gagani might help solve several shooting cases in Cebu.

The firearms seized from John and Gagani were submitted to PNP Crime Laboratory for ballistics examination. —/GMR (FREEMAN)