JOINT police operatives arrested nine persons for alleged gun-for-hire activities and possession of illegal drugs in Calbayog City Wednesday, June 2, 2021.
Brigadier General Ronaldo De Jesus, director of Police Regional Office-Eastern Visayas, identified the suspects as Carlito Magbutay Jr, Aljhon Bacsal, Ramil Magbutay, Erica Casaljay, Ryan Pacayra, Primitivo Pacayra, Edgar Dionog, Renante Magbutay, and a 16-year-old minor.
“The arrest of these suspects involved in illegal drugs and gun-for-hire activities is our aggressive commitment towards ending the number of reported shooting incidents in Calbayog City,” De Jesus said in a statement.
“It is high time that we put an end to such crimes so peace and order can foster,” he added.
According to the official, the suspects were rounded during the simultaneous service of seven search warrants in Barangay Hamorawon and Barangay Migara in Calbayog.
Aside from illegal firearms and ammunition, police also confiscated P102,000 worth of suspected shabu.
Magbutay Jr. was ranked 1 in the provincial target list of Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), according to De Jesus.
The suspect has been the subject of the said warrant issued by Honorable Decoroso Turla, presiding judge of Regional Trial Court Branch 21 of Laoang, Northern Samar.
He was facing charges for alleged violation of Republic Act 10591, or the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act.
According to the police official, the group was allegedly engaged in gun-for-hire and illegal drug activities in the city wherein Magbutay Jr. has been responsible for seven shooting incidents and was previously arrested last March 25, 2017 for drug charges.
The operating units seized from the suspects seven pieces of Caliber .45 pistols, two pieces of Caliber .22 rifle with a suppressor, two pieces of hand grenade, a carbine rifle, one KG sub-machine gun (SMG), a Caliber .38 revolver, two pieces of de boga, several live ammunition for different firearms, nine magazines of Caliber .45, two magazines of carbine, two magazines of KG SMG, two radios, cellular phones, several bank deposit slips, and other personal items.
The operation was led by Calbayog City Police Station, PDEA-Samar, First Samar Provincial Mobile Force Company, Samar Police Provincial Office, and 125SAC, 12SAB of Philippine National Police-Special Action Force. (SunStar Philippines)