2 alleged contract killers' guns undergoing ballistic tests

MANILA, Philippines – The Malabon City police are examining handguns seized from two alleged contract killers to determine the suspects’ connection to the series of at least 15 gangland-style killings in the city since January.

Superintendent Reynaldo Orante, Malabon City police acting chief, said Eduardo Canelas, 19, and Raymond Amador, 21, both residents of Barangay Catmon, yielded a .9mm pistol and a .38 caliber revolver, respectively.

“We must determine whether these guns, particularly the .9mm pistol, could be one of the weapons used in the series of killings here in Malabon,” Orante said.

Examination by the Northern Police District (NPD) crime lab on the evidence recovered showed that only two types of firearms were used in the murders: a .45 caliber and a .9mm pistol.

NPD lab examination results also found out that most of the slugs and shells recovered at the crime scenes came from the same weapon.

Canelas and Amador were arrested in Purok 6 in Barangay Catmon last week after the local police received a text message that the alleged contract killers were sighted in the area.

Purok 6, a squatters’ colony, is a known haven of criminals in Malabon City. The two suspects were charged with illegal possession of firearms and ammunition before the office of Malabon City fiscal Kirstin Ayn Monsalod.

Orante said ballistic examination results on the suspects’ weapons would be out this week. He said that once it was established that their firearms have link to the gangland killings, additional charges would be filed against the two suspects.