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Friday, August 11, 2006
Arms cache recovered from military agent
By Ben O. Tesiorna and Rhodamae M. Hernandez
DAVAO CITY -- Authorities recovered six high-powered firearms and hundreds of assorted ammunition from a military agent during a raid in Calinan, Davao City on Wednesday afternoon.
Armed with three search warrants issued by Judge Renato Fuentes, joint elements of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) and City Mobile Group of the Davao City Police Office swooped down on the residence of Efren N. Sustiguer alias Efren Marcos, Jonathan Tan, and Juan Miguel Sostiger at Purok 2, Crossing Boy Scout Camp in Calinan.
The raiding team was acting on a tip that Sustiguer was in possession of fake gold bars and high-powered firearms of different caliber.
The raid yielded negative on fake gold bars but the team recovered the following: two units of M16 Colt rifle; one unit M-1 Carbine caliber .30; two units M-1 Carbine caliber .30 M1; one unit M-1 US Carbine; 15 M-16 steel short magazines and two plastic short magazines; 425 pieces of live ammunition for caliber 5.56; three steel magazines for caliber 30 M1.
Also, 45 pieces of live ammunition for caliber .30 M1; two pieces bandoler for M16 magazine with bayonet; 6 pieces steel magazines for caliber .30 M1; 67 pieces of live ammunition for caliber .30 M1; one unit bandoler for Carbine magazines; one piece garrison belt; one GP 2000 handheld radio; 4 riffle grenades with case; one camouflage bag; four M16 long steel magazines and one M16 plastic magazines; 6 magazines for caliber .30 M1; 92 pieces of live ammunition for caliber .30 M1; and one bandoler for caliber .30 M1 magazine.
The suspect claimed he is a military "asset" of the Task Force Davao and the Army's 73rd Infantry Battalion.
Sustiguer, who is into treasure hunting, is allegedly involved in gunrunning activities.
He named Task Force Davao chief Eduardo del Rosario and 73rd IB chief Rolando Bautista as his partners in treasure hunting.
Confirmation
In a telephone interview, del Rosario admitted that Sustiguer is a military "asset" who has been helping them in their counter-insurgency campaign in the city.
He denied though that Sustiguer is into gunrunning activities and treasure hunting.
Del Rosario said the arrested suspect is just a victim of intrigues since he is very useful in the military intelligence.
Mini-armory
Unconfirmed reports reaching Sun.Star revealed that Sustiguer's house was made by the military as a mini-armory in its campaign against insurgency.
The firearms found at the house were said to be owned by the military and not the suspect.
Pertinent papers
Lieutenant Colonel Rolly Bautista of the 73rd IB, in a television interview Wednesday, admitted that the firearms recovered from Sustiguer's house are all covered with pertinent papers.
Bautista said they are willing to provide the police with a copy of all the necessary documents.
"But CIDG told us to include the papers in our affidavit in support of Sustiguer," Bautista told Sun.Star Davao.
The suspect is now at the Davao City Police Office Intelligence Division pending the papers to be submitted by Task Force Davao.
Sustiguer is facing charges of violation of Illegal Possession of Firearms, Ammunitions and Explosives. (Sun.Star Davao/Sunnex)
(August 11, 2006 issue)
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