Police Brigadier General Roque Eduardo Vega, Police Regional Office Central Visayas director. | CDN Digital file photo
CEBU CITY, Philippines — The top official of the Police Regional Office (PRO-7) has given a stern warning to all personnel under his watch to stay away from any illegal activities or they will face the full force of the law.
Police Brigadier General Roque Eduardo Vega, PRO-7 director, warned PRO-7 policemen after the arrest of a military personnel identified as Staff Sergeant Cristobal Lao Pantoja, assigned at the 7th Regional Community Defense Group, Reserve Command (7RCDG, ARESCOM), Special Service.
Pantoja was arrested during an operation against illegal firearms conducted last December 10, 2021, in Barangay Apas, Cebu City.
“I will make sure there will be no stone left unturned in our campaign especially involving uniformed personnel. Do not engage in similar illegal activities or else face the full force of the law,” Vega said.
According to a statement, Pantoja was arrested during an operation against loose firearms conducted by various agencies in the morning of December 10 in Kamagong Range Parking Area, VISCOM, Camp Lapu-Lapu in barangay Apas. Pantoja was allegedly engaged in selling guns and accessories.
He was arrested by the joint elements of the Regional Intelligence Division 7, the 152AIC, 82nd Military Intelligence Company, MICO, RCDG 7, and 82nd Infantry Division.
These agencies confiscated two units of 5.56 caliber rifles, three caliber .45 pistols, three caliber .45 magazines, two pieces firearm silencer, four pieces of five hundred peso bills, PhP153,000 boodle money, assorted keys, and one (1) unit Honda Beat color black/red from Pantoja.
Pantoja will be facing charges for violation of sections 28 and 32 of Republic Act 10591 or the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act while confiscated firearms will be submitted to the Regional Forensic Group 7 for ballistic examination.
Vega reiterated that this operation was part of the aggressive campaign of the Philippine National Police against the proliferation of firearms in the region in line with their preparations for the 2022 elections.
READ: PRO-7 chief seeks full cooperation, vigilance of the Cebu City cops