CEBU, Philippines — More than 40 assorted guns and parts worth P1.5 million were seized by the joint operatives of Provincial Intelligence Branch (PIB) and Danao City Police Station in a raid of an illegal gun manufacturing shop in Barangay Masaba, Danao City yesterday afternoon.
Police operatives failed to arrest the shop owner, Ronnel Gomez, and his workers. They believe that the suspects had been warned ahead of the operation.
The police, however, recovered 10 pieces of caliber 22 magnum revolver; 14 caliber .38 revolver; nine pieces of .45 caliber pistol; two pieces of 9mm pistol; and one Ingram machine pistol with magazine.
There were also assorted magazines, frames, and barrels. Various gun manufacturing equipment were also abandoned by the suspects in the shanty that serves as their shop. Among the tools recovered were grinders; welding mask; push drills; welding machine; drilling machine; flat iron; round bar; steel saw; and steel hammer.
Police Senior Inspector Nazareno Emia, PIB deputy chief, said the suspects may have seen them coming.
“Parang nakatunog ata eh. Elevated kasi ang area kaya kahit malayo pa ang authorities ay mapapansin nila,” said Emia.
Emia said they noticed several people running away from the area while they were still at a distance. He said the illegal gun manucaturing shop was located 200 meters away from the barangay road and about 9 kilometers away from the city proper.
Emia said they received information about the illegal gun shop prompting them to conduct operation. He said they did not wait anymore to apply a search warrant from the court because they could not get the cooperation of the community.
“Police operation ang ginawa namin. Kung maghintay kami na makakuha ng search warrant ay wala na matunugan na nila kami. Iyong mga tao doon ay ayaw din namang magsalita. Shanty ang naabutan namin. Open siya tsaka nakalatag roon lahat ng ginagawa nilang mga baril,” Emia said.
He described the shop as one of the biggest operating in the city. Emia believes that the illegal gun manufacturing business in Danao City will be affected by the operation yesterday.
“Mapaparalisa talaga sila dahil isa to sa malaking illegal na gumagawa ng baril dito sa Danao,” said Emia.
Emia said criminal charges for violation of Republic Act 10591 or the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act will be filed against Gomez. (FREEMAN)