Raid in Aklan: Cache of guns, ammo seized, suspect nabbed

CEBU, Philippines- Several firearms and ammunition were seized in a police raid Saturday morning at the house of a suspected gunrunner in Malinao town of Aklan.

Senior Superintendent Samuel Nacion, Aklan Police Provincial Office director, identified the arrested suspect as Carlito de la Cruz, 63, of Barangay San Ramon.

Police confiscated three .22-caliber revolvers, four .357-caliber Smith and Wesson revolvers, four .38-caliber revolvers, a 12-gauge homemade shotgun and and three .22-caliber air rifles.

Nacion said a number of ammunition for different types of firearms were also seized, as well as a bolt assembly for .22-caliber and two rifle butts.

Joint elements of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group–Aklan, the Aklan Public Safety Company, the APPO intelligence branch and the Malinao MPS swooped down on the suspect’s house by virtue of a search warrant issued by Executive Judge Marrietta Homena of Regional Trial Court-Branch 1 of Kalibo, Aklan.

Besides being into the gunrunning deals, de la Cruz also manufactures firearms. “Others also went to him for gunsmith purposes,” Nacion said.

De la Cruz has been in the gunrunning business for several years already but changed his base of operations a few years back, but went back to Aklan last year. “He has locals for buyers,” Nacion added.

The suspect is now detained for filing of charges against him for violation of Presidential Decree 1866 as amended by Republic Act No. 8294 and further amended by R.A. 10591 (Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act).