2 men nabbed, firearms seized in Danao raids

Senior Supt. Cliffor Gaeranod examines the firearms that were seized in two separate raids in Danao City, northern Cebu. ( CDN PHOTO/ LITO TECSON)

POLICE arrested two men and seized 24 firearms in separate raids yesterday in Danao City, northern Cebu.

Police confiscated 11 .45 caliber pistols and a 9mm caliber pistol from the house of Jonard Castro, 40, in barangay Highway Looc.

Seven .38 caliber revolvers, three .45 caliber pistols and two shotguns were found in the house of Francisco Capuyan, 49, in barangay Suba.

Capuyan and Castro denied ownership of the guns, saying these were brought in by customers  for repair.

They usually charge P200 to P250 to repair a gun.

Supt. Rodolfo Albotra, head of the Cebu Provincial Police Office-Provincial Intelligence Branch, said the operation was part of a police campaign against loose firearms in preparation for the May 9 elections.

Police said the seized firearms have a market value of P195,000.

The two men will be charged with violation of Republic Act 10591 or illegal possession of firearms and for violating the Comelec gun ban.

Police said Capuyan has been a gunsmith for 18 years and previously worked in Bahrain.

After finishing his three-year contract abroad, Capuyan returned home to Danao  and  worked as a local quality control inspector  of homemade guns.

Police said Castro is the same person who was arrested by operatives of the Criminal Investigation and Detective Group Central Visayas (CIDG-7) in 2009 for illegal possession of firearms.

Castro was released after the case was dismissed.

Castro has been in the gun repair business for 22 years.