Wednesday, November 05, 2008 Gun running suspect falls By Gigie A. Agtay
POLICE swooped down on a downtown bar and arrested a man for possession of a gun and ammunition for firearms of different calibers along Artiaga Street, Davao City, Monday evening.
Superintendent Honorio Agnila, deputy regional chief of the Criminal Investigation Division (CIDG)-Southern Mindanao, identified the arrested suspect as Rolando T. Macapagal Jr, alias "Junix", 34, married, resident of corner Mabini and Artiaga streets.
Armed with a search warrant issued by RTC Executive Judge Isaac G. Robillo, the raid was conducted by elements of CIDG led by Inspector Johanna May DC Lagundi in coordination with the Sta. Ana police at Migs 13, a bar/billiards place where the suspect also resides.
Macapagal has been the subject of weeks of police surveillance.
Intelligence reports of him being involved in the illegal selling of firearms and ammunition were validated after a test-buy of five rounds of homemade "American Arms Black Widow" ammunition for .22 caliber magnums worth P3,000 on October 31.
Recovered from Macapagal were an Amscor .45 caliber pistol with serial number 860870, three units of magazine assembly for .45 caliber, 13 rounds of live ammunition for .45 caliber, 18 rounds of live ammunition for a 9mm caliber pistol, 19 pieces of empty shell for 9mm caliber, a gun clutch bag, 125 empty shells of .45 caliber, an empty shell for .22 caliber, and a live bullet for a .22 caliber magnum.
Agnila said Macapagal claims to be the founder of the Philippine Guardians of Brotherhood Inc.-Matina chapter.
He added that verification with the Philippine National Police' Firearms and Explosives Division showed that Macapagal is not a license holder of any kind of firearm.
The suspect is now detained at CIDG-Southern Mindanao and awaits the filing of charges for violation of RA 8294 otherwise known as Illegal Possession of Firearms and Ammunition.
