Friday, November 07, 2008
CIDG 7 nabs businessman for keeping unlicensed guns
A BUSINESSMAN was arrested after he was found in possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunition in a raid on his house in Sitio Kalubihan, Talamban, Cebu City
yesterday morning.
Four Airsoft rifles with magazines and two air guns were confiscated from Noel “Titing” Remedio, 32, for his alleged failure to register these with the Firearms, Explosives,
Security Agencies and Guards Section (Fesags) 7 of the police.
Remedio, in an interview with reporters, said he suspected that someone envious of him was behind his arrest by the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) 7.
Complaints
Operatives led by Chief Insp. Rogarth B. Campo raided Remedio’s house using a search warrant issued by Judge Geraldine Faith Econg of the Regional Trial Court Branch 9.
CIDG 7 Chief Guillermo Lorenzo Eleazar said his office started working on Remedio’s case after receiving complaints that he allegedly brandished or fired his gun in the neighborhood.
“This came to our attention because of the complaints,” Eleazar said.
He said the CIDG 7 coordinated with Fesags to verify if Remedio’s firearms were licensed and if the Airsoft guns were also registered. They were not.
Based on PNP Memorandum Circular 11, all Airsoft guns should be registered once at the Fesags. The authorities can confiscate unlisted guns.
Magazines
The operation yielded one .45 pistol, one .380 Llama pistol, one 12-gauge shotgun, three magazines for the .45, two magazines for a caliber .40 firearm, 144 pieces of .45
bullets, 200 bullets for a caliber .40, 20 bullets for a caliber .380, 20 bullets for a 5.56 caliber rifle, 90 empty shells for a caliber .45 and two magazines for a caliber .380.
The team also confiscated three Airsoft M16 rifles, two Airgun rifles, six magazines for an Airsoft rifle, one MP5 Airsoft rifle and four oxygen tanks.
Tanods Allan Claros and Ronnie Maningo witnessed the police operation.
Eleazar said a complaint of illegal possession of firearms and ammunitions will be filed against Remedio.
Interviewed by reporters at the CIDG 7 stockade, Remedio admitted owning the .45 pistol and said the documentation was still being processed. He said he kept the gun for protection, as a businessman.
However, he said the Llama .380 pistol was entrusted to him by a friend who asked him to have it fixed. The shotgun, he said, was already obsolete so he just kept it in the house.
He believes a neighbor could be behind his arrest. (JTG)
For Bisaya stories from Cebu. Click here. (November 7, 2008 issue)
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