ACTING on a tip of an indiscriminate firing, La Trinidad police raided a house of an alleged member of the Cordillera People’s Liberation Army (CPLA) which resulted in the confiscation of several firearms and ammunitions at Upper Shamolog, Pico.
Police seized four caliber .45 handguns, one Magnun .357 and 45 different ammunitions allegedly owned by Peter Chinalpan, 48, married, construction worker, a native of Sadanga, Mountain Province.
Chinalpan, who tried to evade arrest during the raid Saturday afternoon, failed to show proof of ownership and registration of the several handguns.
La Trinidad Municipal Police Station head Chief Inspector Benson Macli-ing said they have yet to verify whether the suspect is a member of the CPLA.
Benguet provincial director Senior Superintendent Lyndon Mencio added that several armed groups are allegedly holding camp in the area but were able to elude authorities during the raid.
"Allegedly maraming armado doon kaya nag alert itong regional mobile battalion, however na-contain na iyong situation dahil nakayanan ng Benguet Provincial Police Office. Nahuli iyong isa," said Mencio.
A case of violation of the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act was already filed against the suspect at the Provincial Prosecutors Office with all confiscated firearms, ammunitions and other evidence turned over to the crime laboratory for ballistic examination and a request for fire arm verification at the Regional Civil Security Unit of Police Regional Office in the Cordillera.