4 men face gun, deadly weapon raps

MANILA, Philippines -    An off-duty security guard was arrested for firing a gun indiscriminately in his neighborhood while three other persons were nabbed on separate occasions by police for illegal possession of firearms and other deadly weapons in Caloocan City yesterday.

City police chief Senior Superintendent Jude Santos identified the security guard as Rowen Homeres, 20, employed by Jerad Security Agency and a resident of Bisig ng Kabataan street in Barangay 2.

Police Officer 2 Frenil Gacasa found an unlicensed .38 caliber handgun with three bullets on Homeres, who was allegedly creating trouble at the corner of A. Mabini and 4th Avenues. Two empty cartridges were also found in the gun chamber.

Trike driver Christopher Balubal, 34, was collared for possessing an unlicensed .38 caliber homemade revolver.

Balubal’s neighbor, Roderick de Paz, 30, with whom he had a quarrel, was also taken into custody for possessing two rounds of ammunition for a 12-gauge shotgun.

Lawrence Lao, 21, was taken to jail after he was seen holding a 12-inch icepick and a bullet for a .45 caliber pistol at around 4:30 a.m. yesterday along Gen. San Miguel street in Sangandaan.

The suspects are facing charges for violating Republic Act 8294 (illegal possession of firearms and ammunition, deadly weapons) and for alarm and scandal.