Monday, September 15, 2008 Drive vs firearms gains in Abra By Ernie N. Olson Jr.
THE intensified campaign of the Police Regional Office in the Cordillera (PRO-Cor) against the proliferation of loose firearms gained some ground with the recovery of two unlicensed guns in Abra and Apayao recently.
According to Chief Superintendent Eugene Martin, PRO-Cor director, this was in line with his directive to operating units in the region to be vigilant and strengthen police operations as a preventive action in the maintenance of peace and order.
He said the latest operation led to the arrest of a gasoline service station supervisor and the confiscation of his unlicensed gun in Bariquiran, Zone 5, Bangued, Abra last September 8.
"The continuous effort of the Abra police to intensify its campaign against loose firearms in violation of Republic Act (RA) 8294 led to the arrest of Randy Pascual Bueno, 32, married, a supervisor of the Caltex Gas Station located at Lipcan, Bangued, Abra, who resides along Torrijos Street, Zone 5 of the same municipality," Martin said.
The arrest was made by a team from the 24th Philippine National Police (PNP) Special Action Company led by Chief Inspector Mario Bariquiran Jr. in a checkpoint operation after he was found to be in possession of one Armscor caliber 45 pistol loaded with seven live ammunitions tucked in his waist.
"After the suspect was confronted about the gun, he failed to present the necessary documents or authority to possess such firearm during the police inquiry," he said.
As a consequence, the suspect was subsequently brought to the Abra Provincial Police Office for proper disposition with the confiscated evidence.
In the province of Apayao, the efforts of police personnel in their crime prevention campaign also resulted to the surrender of one caliber .22 magnum revolver bearing serial number 222444 and six live bullets.
Senior Superintendent Rolando Nana, director of the Apayao Provincial Police Office, identified the person who surrendered the firearm as Jhun Acebedo Arellano, a resident of Emiliana, Sta. Marcela, Apayao.
During an investigation conducted by Sta. Marcela Municipal Police Station personnel, it was found out that the firearm was recovered by Arellano while walking on his way home along the Emiliana barangay sometime in the late evening of September.
"After finding the gun along the road, he immediately turned the recovered firearm over to the police," Nana said.
He added the firearm is now under the custody of the Apayao police office for proper disposition.
