Seven men were arrested but not after they engaged the police in a shootout in barangay Liburon, Carcar City, southern Cebu at dawn yesterday.
Arrested were: Marjun Del Rosario, 23; Rommel Lauron, 21; Jayjun Valter Responso, 24; Junrey Matugas, 20; Arnel Larobes, 30; Virgilio Racoma, 27; and Ronald Lapinid, 29. Seized from them were two hand grenades, a KG9 sub-machine pistol, an Ingram automatic pistol, a .357 cal. revolver, a .38 cal. revolver and several rounds of ammunition.
Assorted gun parts and drug-sniffing paraphernalia were also recovered from the suspects, police said.
SPO1 Jose Yamasaki Repompo, desk officer of the Carcar City Police Station, said they received a report past 2 a.m. that a group of armed men were roaming around Liburon and one of them fired several rounds.
Ten policemen, headed by Supt. Teodulfo Manatad III, the city’s police chief, rushed to the area.
Repompo said that when the police arrived in the area, the suspects fired at them, triggering a gunfight.
Police said the suspects hid inside a house that they have been renting out.
Police surrounded the house and several minutes later, the suspects surrendered.
Repompo said Larobes has a pending warrant of arrest for illegal gun possession charges.
Police said they will check the suspects’ background.