Ex-soldier nabbed for arms cache in Iloilo
AN ex-Army soldier “dishonorably discharged” from the military service for allegedly killing his brother was arrested by agents of the Philippine National Police’s Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) for illegal possession of weapons and explosives in Iloilo province on Monday, PNP-CIDG Director Brigadier General Romeo M. Caramat Jr. said yesterday.
The 53-year-old former soldier was arrested by members of the CIDG Iloilo City Field Unit (CFU) during a raid in his residence in Barangay Wari-Wari in New Lucena, Iloilo past 10 a.m. Monday (January 30).
The official said that the raid was conducted on the strength of a search warrant for illegal possession of firearms issued by Judge Rose Edith Togonon of the Iloilo City Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 25.
Caramat said the search led to the confiscation of one caliber .45 semi-automatic pistol; one IntraTec KG9 sub-machinegun; one 12-gauge shotgun; one cal. .22 rifle; one cal. .22 Magnum revolver; two hand grenades; one improvised pipe bomb; 183 rounds of assorted live ammunition; three assorted magazines; a two-meter long wire for making an improvised explosive device (IED); and a plastic sachet containing flash powder that creates flashes or flames.
The PNP-CIDG director said that apart from being accused of killing his brother, the suspect had also been identified as a member of an organized crime group engaged in robbery-extortion, gun-for-hire, and gunrunning activities in Iloilo province.
The suspect is now facing charges for violation of Republic Act (RA) 10591, the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulations Act of 2013, and RA 9516 for illegal possession of explosives.
Caramat likewise announced the arrest of a juvenile offender tagged as the no. 1 “most wanted person” in Cebu on Monday evening.
The suspect is the subject of a non-bailable warrant of arrest for murder issued by Judge Leah Geraldez of the Cebu City RTC Br. 20 and another warrant for attempted homicide issued by Judge Van Russel Inopiquez of the Cebu City RTC Br. 22, the official said.
Caramat said that the suspect was among the 18 “children in conflict with law” who bolted the Cebu City Operation Second Chance Center, a facility for juvenile delinquents, last January 11.
The suspect is now under the custody of the Mandaue City CIDG Field Office. BY ZAIDA DELOS REYES & ALFRED DALIZON
