Saturday, March 29, 2008 Cops nab ex-seaman for possession of firearms By Erwin Ambo S. Delilan
E.B. MAGALONA -- Police here Thursday raided the house of a former seaman at St. Therese Subdivision, Barangay Alicante, resulting in the confiscation of six assorted firearms, nine assorted bladed weapons, and more than 200 mixed ammunitions.
Police Chief Inspector Samuel Mina Jr. identified the suspect as Ronilo Majan, a native of Victorias City who is now residing at Phase III, St. Therese Subdivision.
Seized during the raid were three units of Armscor caliber 22 rifles with scopes, one unit Armscor caliber 45 with three magazines assemblies, 128 live ammunitions and 12 spent shells; one unit Faith 13 caliber 380 pistol with two magazines assemblies, 56 live ammunitions and seven spent shells; one unit of Smith and Wesson caliber 32 revolver with 35 live ammunitions, 29 spent shells, and 11 live ammunitions of a caliber 22 gun.
Also recovered were nine assorted knives with respective pouches.
Mina said the raid was conducted around 3 p.m. after Majan's neighbors complained to the police his alleged blatant display of assorted firearms every now and then.
"So, we immediately applied for a search warrant and Judge Evelyn Gengos, presiding judge of Manapla-EB Magalona Municipal Trial Circuit Court, granted our request," Mina said.
Majan did not resist arrest but told police that what they recovered from his possession were collector's items.
In an interview inside the town's jail, Majan also admitted that he personally bought some of the confiscated firearms and ammos, while others were given to him by close friends.
He explained that he had such items in his possession because he likes hunting birds. He said he's ready to face any charge that would be filed against him since he has all pertinent documents to prove that his guns and ammos are legitimate.
But Mina said: "We are now awaiting for all the papers that Majan promised to present to us to prove that everything he possessed was legal and documented. But for now, I can say that two of the confiscated six firearms were unlicensed and therefore, considered to be loose."
"We are now readying to file charges of illegal possession of firearms and ammunitions and deadly weapons or a violation of R.A. (Republic Act) 8294 against the suspect," he added.
Mina stressed that the "raid connotes our all-out campaign here in EB Magalona against loose firearms. This, as we want to promote responsible gun ownership among Saraviahanons."
