Aformer soldier was arrested for illegal possession of firearms and illegal drugs.
Zaldy Pareja, 56, was arrested in his house in Compostela town, northern Cebu yesterday by the operatives of Criminal Investigation and Detection Group in Central Visayas (CIDG-7).
The CIDG-7 was armed with a search warrant issued by Judge Antonio Marigomen of Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 61 of Bogo City.
Chief Insp. Lirio Coral said they received complaints from the residents in Sitio Proper, Barangay Basak, Compostela, that Pareja has been firing his gun indiscriminately in the area, prompting them to ask for a search warrant after placing the suspect under surveillance.
The operatives were able to recover a rifle, .45 pistol, two .38 revolvers, bullets and small packs of shabu from Pareja.
“We have been monitoring him. He also has a warrant of arrest in Danao City for illegal drugs case,” Coral said.
Coral added that Pareja is allegedly a “goon” of a certain politician in Compostela.
But Pareja denied it and claimed that he was a former bodyguard of a politician and a former member of Philippine Army Special Forces with a rank of corporal.
He also denied owning the guns.
“Dili na akoa. Gibilin rana sa akoa. Wala gani na nako hilabti, naa ra na sa aparador” (Those are not mine. Those were left under my care. I did not even touch it, and those were just stored in the cabinet),” Pareja said.
Charges of illegal possession of firearms and drugs will be filed against Pareja.