Province cops seize P1M worth of guns, gun-making equipment

Gun-making equipment confiscated during last Thursday’s raids are displayed at the Police Regional Office in Central Visayas during a presentation of the confiscated items yesterday. (CDN PHOTO/ CHRISTIAN MANINGO)

Police arrested two persons and confiscated several firearms and gun-making equipment in three Danao City barangays last Thursday as police intensified their campaign against illegal firearms.

The campaign period for local officials fell on a Good Friday, compelling candidates to kick off their campaign on Saturday.

Provincial Intelligence Branch (PIB) operatives led by Supt. Rodolfo Albotra raided several houses in Barangays Cahumayan, Manlayag and Suba.

Among those confiscated were 12 units of .22 Magnum Black Widow, 6 units of unassembled .45 pistols, 260 pieces of unfinished upper receiver for .45 pistols, and 35 magazines of .45 pistols.

Also seized were a lathe machine, a push drill and a hydraulic press for barrel grooving.

The PIB operatives also arrested Ariel Perez, 28, and Riel Perez, 34, during their raid in Barangay Cahumayan.

“We suspect that part of these are orders (of guns to be used) for the upcomingelections . . . This is not just in Cebu, this is nationwide. Some orders were (even) made outside the country,” Chief Supt. Manuel Gaerlan, head of the Police Regional Office Central Visayas (PRO-7) told reporters in a press briefing yesterday.

The confiscated guns, unfinished gun parts, and gun-making equipment  were presented to the media yesterday.

Handguns confiscated during last Thursday’s raids are displayed at the Police Regional Office in Central Visayas during a presentation of the confiscated items yesterday. (CDN PHOTO/CHRISTIAN MANINGO)

Gaerlan said they also confiscated several scrap   metals to be used in making guns, which were supplied by a shipbuilding company based in Cebu.

Gaerlan, however, refused to name the company that supplied the scrap metals.

He commended Albotra and his men for the operation which he called “One Time, Big Time” and is part of the police’s intensified campaign against loose firearms especially with the elections fast approaching.

“We will continue monitoring them (gunmakers in Danao). I advised them not to resort to this kind of livelihood again. With this (operation) we were able to prevent violence,” said Gaerlan, who was referring to the possibility of violence if those confiscated guns fell on the wrong hands.

According to the PRO-7, their intensified campaign against loose firearms and illegal drugs in three months’ time led to the confiscation of 195 firearms and the arrest of 112 individuals.