Assorted guns, P1M worth of drugs seized in simultaneous CIDG 7 raids

Supt. Fermin Armendarez, deputy chief of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) 7, checks one of the firearms seized in their simultaneous raids in the different parts of Cebu over the weekend.
(CDN PHOTO/JUNJIE MENDOZA)

Four men were arrested while P1 million worth of shabu and assorted firearms were seized in separate operations by the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) 7 across the region over the weekend.

The CIDG 7 implemented six search warrants that led to the arrest of Edgar Padillo, Ernesto Mamalias,  Samuel Villanueva and  Dexter Pasaje.

Supt. Fermin Armendarez III, deputy chief of CIDG 7, said the simultaneous operations were part of  CIDG 7’s  “One Time, Big Time” program.

One of the subjects of the search warrant, Christopher Luna of barangay Perrelos, Carcar City, eluded arrest.

He jumped over the perimeter fence of his house. Police seized several packs of white crystalline powder believed to be shabu and a .45 pistol from his house.

Armendarez said Luna was involved in gun-for-hire activities.  He was charged in 2007 for allegedly killing an American national but the case was dismissed.

Another team led by Chief Insp. Rene Kyamko arrested Padillo and Mamalia last Saturday in Padillo’s house in barangay Tubod-Digoan, Dumanjug.

Seized during the raid were three .45 handguns and a fragmentation grenade.

In barangay Labangon, Cebu City, the CIDG 7 personnel arrested Villanueva, a suspected drug pusher. Seized from him were a gun and several packs of white powder believed to be shabu.

The same team led by Armendarez also seized 15 assorted firearms and ammunition in Danao City. They arrested  Pasaje who was allegedly caught making a firearm inside his shanty in sitio Mariz, barangay Kahumay-humayan.

There were three other men inside the shanty but they escaped when the police arrived.

The guns and bullets were worth around P195,000.

Also seized during the raid were magazines and barrel for a .45 pistol, a magazine for a 9mm pistol, a frame for .357 gun and assorted gun-making tools.