Tuesday, March 18, 2008 High-powered firearms seized in Danao raid; 2 cousins nabbed
TWO men were arrested for possession of high-powered firearms and gun accessories in a raid by the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) 7 in Barangay Mahayag, Danao City, Cebu last Saturday.
The CIDG team, led by Senior Insp. Patrick Vaño, arrested cousins Marlou Lugas and Rene Caputolan in their respective houses in Barangay Mahayag at around 4 p.m. Saturday.
The raid used search warrants issued by Regional Trial Court (RTC) Judge Soliver Peras.
Seized from Lugas’ house were two 12-gauge shotguns, one caliber .38 revolver, three pieces of unfinished lower receiver for KG-9, 10 pieces magazine springs for KG-9, four pieces of live ammunition for 12-gauge shotgun, five rounds of live ammunition for caliber .40 and five rounds of live ammunition for caliber 9mm.
Magazines
At Caputolan’s house, the operatives found and confiscated five pieces of unfinished KG-9, two pieces magazines for KG-9, one silencer for KG-9, one caliber .38 revolver square Bingham, 15 live ammunition for caliber 9mm pistol and five pieces empty shells for caliber 9mm.
The seized firearms and accessories were estimated to worth almost P.5 million.
CIDG 7 officer Zoilo Lachica, who presented the arrested suspects in a news conference, said the team conducted a week-long surveillance on the suspects before conducting the raid.
The suspects are allegedly engaged in gun-making and repair.
Caputolan and Lugas, when sought for comment, admitted they are into the illegal gun-making trade.
Meanwhile, Lachica believes no other CIDG 7 operatives were involved in the alleged robbery extortion that resulted in the arrest of SPO3 Reynaldo Matillano last Friday.
Complaint
Matillano, a CIDG7 operative, was arrested in an entrapment set up by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) 7 based on the complaint of Ronnie Hernani, who was earlier arrested by CIDG 7 for alleged possession of firearm.
Apart from Matillano, Hernani mentioned at least two other CIDG 7 operatives allegedly involved in the activity. Sun.Star is withholding the names of the operatives pending the filing of charges against them.
Arrest
Lachica, however, believes the other operatives mentioned by Hernani were the ones who arrested him last March 9.
But Lachica vowed to personally arrest any of his men who are involved in illegal activities.
“Hindi na dapat maulit at talagang di na mauulit (The incident shouldn’t be repeated),” Lachica said. (JST)
