Tipster nabbed for gun possession

CEBU, Philippines — Weeks after giving information about the whereabouts of murder suspect Jessie Largo, the tipster himself is now the one embroiled in a legal conflict after he was arrested for illegal possession of firearms Tuesday morning in Sibonga, Cebu.

During the arrest, the suspect (whose name is withheld being a tipster) even dropped the name of Talisay Chief of Police Supt Jason Villamater, saying he was one of police assets.

Sibonga police Chief Stephen Amamag-id said the suspect was with his two other cohorts  on board a pump boat heading to Dalaguete, Cebu claiming that they are going to coordinate with the town’s policemen because they have information of a certain suspect.

However, the group was forced to dock in Barangay Bagacay, Sibonga after the pump boat they were using ran out of gasoline.

Aside from gasoline, the group reportedly also loaded a motorcycle (plate number 0701-481832) into the pump boat, which prompted a concerned citizen that saw them to report to the police.

The concerned citizen thought that the motorcycle was stolen.

During the arrest, Sibonga policemen found out that one of the suspects has a caliber .45 with five live bullets.  The suspect failed to present proper documents of the said firearm.

During the investigation, the police found out that the motorcycle owner confirmed that one of the suspects borrowed it.

With that, only the tipster was detained for possession of Illegal firearm.  His companions were released afterwards.

At the Cebu Provincial Police Office, the tipster also claimed that Talisay policemen did not give him the full reward of P200,000 for giving information about Largo, who was earlier wanted for allegedly killing the son of a government employee.

Villamater, for his part, said they are not aware that the tipster had a group who gave them information about the whereabouts of Largo.

The group reportedly has about five or so members.

"Sa pagkakaalam ko, naayos na.  Na-delayed lang ang pagkaka-distribute sa grupo nila," Villamater said.

He added that they have nothing to do with the internal conflict of the group.  He said that they already gave the full P200,000 to the one who personally cooperated with them last Monday.

"To clarify, the reward was given.  Na-received na nila at may pinirmahan.

Kung ano man na problema internally sa grupo,  wala ng hold ang police sa grupo nila," he said. (FREEMAN)