7 suspected hired guns nabbed in Cavite raid
SEVEN suspected members of a gun-for-hire syndicate operating in Calabarzon region were arrested by agents of the Philippine National Police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group in an anti-criminality raid in Dasmariñas City, Cavite on Monday, PNP-CIDG director Maj. Gen. Nicolas D. Torre III announced yesterday.
“This is part of our effort to account for private armed groups, loose firearms and other crime gangs in the country as ordered by PNP chief Gen. Rommel Francisco D. Marbil ahead of the May 12 National and Local Elections,” the official said.
Torre said that operatives of the CIDG Regional Field Unit 4-A, with the help of officers from the Police Regional Office 4-A’s Regional Intelligence Division and Regional Mobile Force Battalion, and the PNP Special Action Force, arrested the seven during simultaneous implementation of search warrants for violation of Republic Act 10591 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.
The official identified the seven arrested suspects thru their aliases “Eduard, Jesus, Ernie, Richard, Mark, Trixcy and Eddie.”
The PNP-CIDG director described “Eduard” and “Jesus” as respective members of the Javier Crime Group and Caminero Crime Group involved in gunrunning, contract killing and gun-for-hire activities in Cavite and Laguna.
Recovered from the suspects were one M-16 automatic rifles, two caliber .22 rifles, one cal. .45 pistol, a cal .22 pistol, one cal. .38 revolver, one cal. .22 revolver, a silencer and various magazines and live ammunition, as well as plastic sachets containing suspected shabu, and several drug paraphernalia, including a weighing scale.
The suspects were arrested in Bgy. Salawag in Dasmariñas City.
The suspects will be facing criminal charges for violation of RA 10591, Ra 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, Batas Pambansa 881 or the Omnibus Election Code and the Comelec-imposed gun ban.
“Rest assured that your CIDG is relentless in its fight against loose firearms and unyielding against gunrunning syndicates and gun-for-hire criminal groups and illegal drug groups nationwide,” said Torre.
“We will account and seize all illegal firearms and subdue and neutralize all contract killers and private armed groups across the country to ensure a safe and peaceful National and Local Election this coming May 12,” he added.
