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Sunday, May 02, 2004
CIDG arrest firearms manufacturer
DAVAO -- A firearms manufacturer and trader, who has been into gunrunning activities for 21 years, was arrested by members of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) 11 Friday morning.
Arrested was Crispin Paduhinog, 43, of Purok 6, Barangay San Vicente in Asuncion, Davao del Norte.
Most of the assembled firearms have been allegedly sold to barangay police in Asuncion, according to the suspect. He said shotguns were sold at P2,500.
Paduhinog admitted to reporters that he has been into gunrunning activities for 21 years now--11 years in the same business in Sta. Cruz, Davao del Sur and 10 years in Asuncion.
CIDG members led by Sr. Supt. Jose Pante raided Paduhinog's shop at around 11:00 a.m., through a search warrant issued Judge Oscar Tirol of the Regional Trial Court 1.
Confiscated from Paduhinog's shop were 11 homemade 12-gauge shotguns, five of these are yet to be repaired, 10 handguns and seven airguns yet to be repaired, a conditioned airgun, a caliber 22 magnum, a caliber 22 revolver, several ammunitions and magazines, and various paraphernalia for manufacture and repair of firearms.
Earlier, five caliber .45 pistols and several live ammunitions of the same caliber were also confiscated by the CIDG from two suspected gunrunners during a buy-bust operation at Barangay Magatos, Asuncion on April 20.
Paduhinog and the two alleged gunrunners arrested earlier, identified as Gualberto Lomocso, 43 and Renante Ipanag, 20, were presented Saturday to CIDG director Chief Supt. Arturo Lumibao and Police Regional Office 11 director Chief Supt. Isidro Lapeña.
"I commend the PNP region 11 director (Lapeña) and the CIDG 11 director (Pante) for this very successful accomplishment of the operations against illegal possession of firearms in relation to the Comelec gun ban," Lumibao said.
Lapeña said they will check Paduhinog's statement on the alleged sale of firearms to barangay police.
Lapeña admits the possibility that the demand for firearms increased because of the upcoming May elections.
"But whatever their purpose, it is illegal. Expect more firearms to be confiscated and more persons to be arrested," Lapeña added.
On Monday, CIDG will file charges against Paduhingog for illegal possession of firearms.
Lumibao has ordered the police to strengthen the campaign against proliferation of illegal firearms.
With the successive operations by the CIDG, six various cases were already filed by its office to the City Prosecution Office. Rex C. Otero
(May 2, 2004 issue)
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