THE four suspected gun smugglers, who were arrested after a wild car chase from Tugbok to Bangkal last week, were given 10 days to file their counter affidavits.

"Nag-avail sila ng PI (preliminary investigation) and binigyan ko ng 10 days para mag-counter," investigating prosecutor Carlos Castaños said.

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Ruel dela Torre, 41, resident of Pantukan, Compostela Valley; Teodilo Pogoy, 41, of Tagum City; Rolando Catapon, 36 also of Pantukan; and Josefino Capuyan, 31, of Cebu City are facing charges of violation of Republic Act (RA) 8294 otherwise known as the Illegal possession of Firearms and Ammunitions.

They were charged based on the affidavit executed by the Chief Inspector Caezar Payawal Cabuhat, Tugbok police chief.

In his affidavit, Cabuhat said around 10 p.m. of January 7, he received a tip from the Regional Intelligence Division saying a green Isuzu Wagon with plate number KDJ 850 will be passing their police station and will be delivering undetermined number of short firearms to Pantukan in Compostela Valley.

He claimed that 25 minutes later, he spotted the vehicle approaching their checkpoint. They ordered the vehicle to stop but the vehicle sped off, also by-passing the checkpoint set up at the Ulas Police Action Center.

The police finally caught up with the vehicle at Kilometer 7 in Bangkal.

Recovered from their possession were homemade guns (paltik) that include 10 units of caliber .45 STI Edge, one caliber .45 Grand Master, 4 units of caliber .38 revolver snub nose, 6 units of cal .357 revolver sturn ruger, one .357 revolver power custom, one .357 revolver SNU, 3 units of .22 caliber Magnum revolver Black Widow, 28 magazines for .45 caliber (standard), 2 units of silencer, 6 magazines of caliber .45 (extended), and 2 magazines of 9mm.

The suspects are now detained at the Tugbok Police station.