AUTHORITIES in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) arrested in separate operations over the weekend five individuals for possession of firearms and ammunition without pertinent documents.

On April 15, police arrested in a checkpoint Roderick Bernardez Afroilan, 23, a resident of Poblacion, Penarrubia in Abra.

Afroilan tried to escape, but he was caught along Lingsad, Riang, Penarrubia town after a short chase.

Police seized from him a caliber .45 Norinco pistol and a magazine loaded with seven ammunition tucked in his waist.

Around 8 p.m. of April 16, police also arrested Ian Millare Taluban, 37, a resident of Deet, Tayum; and Germalon Tauro Potolin, 29, a resident of Angad, Bangued along Angad-Bacsil Road.

The police recovered one M16 baby armalite, caliber .45 with one magazine loaded with eight ammunition, three magazines of 5.56 mm, 52 ammunition, and a black bag containing 14 sachets of suspected methamphetamine hydrochloride or “shabu.”

In Ifugao, another gun holder was arrested on Sunday evening, April 16, at Banao, Poblacion East, Lagawe.

The suspect, identified as Jaypee Dulnuan of Kiangan was reported to have taken a key of a motorcycle from his victims and failed to return.

Despite presence of responding police personnel, he refused to return the key, prompting the cops to search him.

Police seized a caliber .38 handgun with no trademark loaded with three ammunition and one fired cartridge case tucked on his waist.

In Kalinga, tricycle driver Jose Lecs Panabang Dorico, 41, a resident of Purok 3, Masablang, Tabuk City, was arrested in a checkpoint last April 14 along the national highway in Block 3, Purok 5, Bulanao, Tabuk City.

Police recovered an Armscor .45 cal. pistol, with magazine loaded with five ammunitions, one light brown sling bag and black wallet containing his driver’s license, and P34,538 in different denominations.

On April 17, after responding to a reported shooting incident in a disputed land in Laya West, Tabuk City, police recovered one M16 riffle with a magazine containing 14 ammunition, one magazine for M16 loaded with 27 ammunition hidden in a grassy area, and one improvised revolver loaded with four ammunitions of M16 hidden in a garbage can.

Chief Superintendent Francis Sarona, Police Regional Office director, said the police will be vigilant and pro-active in the campaign against loose firearms to lessen threat to the peace and order situation in the Cordillera. (Roderick Osis)