A MAN claiming to be a Philippine Army colonel “reservist” was arrested by policemen in Nagcarlan, Laguna, for indiscriminate firing and possession of several high-powered firearms on Sunday afternoon, Laguna Police Provincial Office (LPPO) Director Colonel Randy Glenn G. Silvio announced on Monday.

In a report to Police Regional Office 4-A (PRO4-A) Director Brig. Gen. Jose Melencio C. Nartatez Jr., Silvio said the suspect was a resident of Barangay San Antonio, Parañaque City.

Silvio said that the suspect was arrested at 1:30 p.m. Sunday in Bgy. Tipacan in Nagcarlan municipality amid a complaint that gunfire was heard in the area.

There was also a report that a group of men was carrying long firearms in the area.

Officers who rushed to the site later saw several vehicles parked along the road. Occupants of the vehicles identified themselves as members of the Philippine Wildlife Sentinel based in Camp Lawin, Biñan City, who are undergoing jungle survival training under the supervision of the suspect.

When accosted by members of the Nagcarlan Municipal Police Station (MPS), the suspect yielded three M-16 automatic rifles, two M-16 airsoft rifles, one 12-gauge shotgun with serial number, eight loaded M-16 magazines, 21 pieces of various live ammunition, two handheld radios, four military vests, an ammunition bandolier, and two pieces of Army Reservist uniform.

Some of the weapons were found inside the suspect’s red Toyota Innova van.

The records of two of the confiscated M-16 rifles, with serial numbers intact, are now being checked by the Laguna Police with the PNP (Philippine National Police) Firearms and Explosives Office.

The 3rd automatic rifle turned out to be having defaced serial numbers.

Silvio said that before the arrest of the suspect, a concerned resident of Bgy. Tipacan informed the local police that he heard gunshots in their community.

Members of the Nagcarlan MPS, the Laguna PPO’s 1st Provincial Mobile Force Company (PMFC) and Provincial Intelligence Branch, and the Regional Intelligence Unit 4-A rushed to the area and accosted the suspect following coordination with local barangay officials.

Nagcarlan Police Chief Maj. Marlon M. Calonge said the suspect failed to present documents on the ownership of the confiscated high-powered rifles during initial questioning.

However, he said that the suspect claimed that they went to the area to conduct a “search-and-rescue” training. The accused said that they even sent a memorandum to the Nagcarlan MPS and local government unit (LGU) regarding their training.

“They are not authorized to conduct any live firing in the area. The sound of the gunfire actually attracted the attention of some local residents who immediately informed the local police of the situation,” Silvio said.

The Laguna Police director said that the suspect claimed he works as an administrative staff of the Parañaque City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council. He also yielded an identification card from a group called “Philippine Coastal River Guards Agroupation Unified Command” based in Biñan City. The ID shows the accused wearing a uniform of a “Colonel.”

The ID states that the suspect is a “Colonel” with two positions – first as “1600th Executive Officer” and second as “1603rd Battalion Commander.” The ID was signed by one “Rear Admiral Jose Francisco L. Ramos III.”

The suspect is now facing criminal charges for violation of Republic Act 10591 or the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulations Act of 2013, the official said. By Alfred Dalizon & Gil Aman