3 police 'agents' nabbed over gun ban violation

COTABATO CITY, Philippines - Policemen implementing the gun ban arrested Tuesday in Pikit, North Cotabato three men posing as police “civilian agents” and seized from them unlicensed guns.

Chief Inspector Jordine Maribojo, chief of the Pikit municipal police, said Cyril Abapo, 26; Galileo Hinosa Jr., 35; and 59-year-old Danilo Licatan, were intercepted by policemen and soldiers  while the three were riding a motorcycle together on their way to Davao City from Pigcawayan, North Cotabato.  

The suspects introduced themselves as “civilian agents” of the Criminal Investigation Group, but failed to show documents for their firearms and individual written exemptions from the gun ban being imposed by the Commission on Elections since January 13. 

Maribojo said policemen and Army combatants manning the Comelec-supervised checkpoint seized from the suspects  .45 Caliber handguns and extra cartridge magazines filled with metal-jacketed bullets.

Maribojo said they also impounded the suspects’ Suzuki motorcycle bearing license plate YDU 984.

Maribojo said they will charge the suspects at a local court with violation Comelec’s Resolution 9588, which prohibits carrying of guns outside residences, from January to June 2013.

The suspects are detained at the Pikit municipal police facility.