3 arrested for illegal possession of firearms

CAMP VICENTE LIM, Laguna —Three people, including a retired US Navy, were arrested the other day in a series of police operations in Batangas and Laguna for illegal possession of firearms and ammunitions, police said.

During the operations, authorities confiscated one caliber 9mm, a caliber .45 and several ammunitions.

Senior Supt. Mark Edison Belarma, chief of Calabarzon-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) 4A, identified the arrested suspects as Leonardo Aquilas Valmorida, 52, a former US navy; Christopher Tenedo and Arvin Tan, both civilian assets from the Intelligence Services of Armed Forces of the Philippines (ISAFP).

CIDG4A operatives armed with search warrants issued by Judge Cesar Magrobang, Regional Trial Court (RTC), Branch 22, Imus, Cavite immediately nabbed the three suspects.

Belarma said his men swooped down on Valmorida’s residence at around 7 a.m. in Alitagtag, Batangas, accompanied by barangay officials.

During the search, the police found unlicensed guns and ammunitions which resulted in the arrest of Valmorida. — Ed Amoroso