Over 100 nabbed, illegal weapons seized by PNP-CIDG agents
STEPPED UP anti-crime drive by the Philippine National Police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group have resulted in the arrest of over 100 lawbreakers and the seizure of a cache of illegal weapons and explosives, PNP-CIDG director Brigadier General Romeo M. Caramat Jr. said yesterday.
In a report to PNP chief General Rodolfo S. Azurin Jr., the official said 63 of the suspects were arrested on Wednesday following the conduct of 58 anti-crime operations which likewise led to the confiscation of several illegal guns, ammunition and explosives.
Brig. Gen. Caramat said that five of the suspects arrested were listed as Regional Most Wanted Persons or MWPs, three are Provincial MWPs and two are Municipal MWPs. The rest were tagged as Other MWPs.
The official said that nine others were also jailed as a result of their intensified enforcement of the CIDG Oplan: Paglalansag Omega aimed at neutralizing partisan armed groups and accounting for all loose weapons in the country.
He said recovered from the nine suspects were 12 firearms and three explosives.
Last March 18 and 19, Brig. Gen. Caramat said they also accounted for five Regional MWPs, two Provincial MWPs; one Municipal MWP and eight other wanted persons.
Brig. Gen. Caramat said they also confiscated four illegal firearms and one explosive during the period.
Among those arrested by the PNP-CIDG were Mimaropa region’s 8th most wanted person who is facing a non-bailable murder case; three men found in possession of a cache of weapons and explosives in Naga, Zamboanga Sibugay; the 4th most wanted man in Caraga region who is facing a non-bailable statutory rape case; another man wanted for two counts of statutory rape and one count of attempted statutory rape in Cebu province; and the 7th most wanted person in Carmen, Cebu wanted for car theft.
Brig. Gen. Caramat said his men also arrested Edgardo Tapia, a retired Army soldier, for illegal possession of firearms and ammunition. He said that a raid on Tapia’s residence led to the recovery of three handguns, a 12-gauge shotgun and assorted live ammunition.
The suspect is now facing charges for violation of Republic Act 10591 or the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulations Act of 2013.
