High-powered guns seized in raid

MANILA, Philippines - Police yesterday confiscated several high caliber firearms and ammunition in a raid on a compound in Tala, Bagong Silang, Caloocan City.

City police chief Senior Superintendent Rimas Calixto said seized during the operation were 11 high powered guns, including two M-16 rifles, an M-14, a caliber .45 pistol, a caliber .38 revolver, several shotguns and 73 live bullets for M-16.

He said the raid was part of “Oplan Galugad” to account for loose firearms.

Caloocan police spokesman Superintendent Jackie Candelario said they conducted the operation on orders of National Capital Region Police Office chief Director Leonardo Espina to strictly implement the election gun ban.

Candelario said the seized firearms will undergo testing to determine if they were used in criminal activities.

He said the caliber .45 that they confiscated will be tested to find out if it matches the bullet recovered from gunshot victim Stephanie Nicole Ella.

More than a dozen people were arrested during the raid, but Candelario said not all of them will be charged with gun ban violation as some of them were nabbed for violating city ordinances.

Some of the suspects, whose identities were withheld pending investigation, have outstanding warrants of arrest, according to Candelario.

Police said they also seized drug paraphernalia and 34 motorcycles being used as payment for illegal drugs.

Candelario said the motorcycles were not registered with the Land Transportation Office in 2012.

He said yesterday’s operation was conducted following a shooting incident that left four people dead in North Caloocan last week.

Last month, police recovered several high caliber firearms believed to have been used by members of the Alferez robbery and kidnap group.

Candelario said they have yet to verify if the long firearms found in an abandoned house yesterday were owned by the syndicate.