Ammos seized in Aklan

BY BOY RYAN B. ZABAL

 

Authorities on Saturday recovered pieces of ammunition in a raid in Malinao, Aklan, the Philippine National Police said. 

Paquito Yeban, 34, was arrested in his house in Barangay Rosario, Malinao, Aklan by operatives of Aklan Public Safety Company and Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG)-Aklan.

The arrest was made by virtue of a search warrant issued by the regional trial court in Kalibo, Aklan. 

Recovered from Yeban were five pieces of live ammunitions of M-14 rifle and live ammunition of 12 gauge shotgun, seven fired cartridge of 45 caliber pistol, a live ammunition of 45 caliber, a pouch for 12 gauge shotgun ammunition and five fired shell of 12 gauge shotgun. 

In a radio report, Senior Inspector John Paul Tovera, chief of CIDG-Aklan said the raid was conducted after they found out that the firearms of Yeban were unregistered or unrenewed in Camp Crame. 

Tovera said the operatives recovered no firearms during the raid. The suspect claimed he lost the firearms when Typhoon Frank devastated the province on June 2008. 
 

“Nagbabantay lang siya ng palayan pero may mga armas. Hindi naman siya gumagawa ng baril.  Posible na ang mga baril ay naitago sa ibang lugar, napahiram o naibenta ng suspect. Nawala daw niya ang kanyang baril noong bagyong Frank,” Tovera said.

The suspect is known in his Barangay Rosario for arbitrarily firing his guns and causing alarm and scandal. 

Senior Superintendent Jomil John Trio, Aklan police deputy director for operations, said the suspect had been placed under surveillance after he failed to renew the expired license of his shotgun in 2007.

 “May mga empty shells ng shotgun, 45 caliber at bala pa ng M14 during the raid, indicating he fired those guns before ,” Trio said. 

Yeban is presently detained at Kalibo police station lock-up cell. The suspect will face charges for violation of Section 28 of Republic Act 10591 or the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act. 

Three weeks ago, CIDG-Aklan, Aklan Public Safety Company and the Malinao police also seized in San Ramon, Malinao, Aklan several firearms and ammunition. 

Police identified the suspect as 63-year old Carlito dela Cruz, a gunsmith operator. 

Recovered from him were three .22-caliber revolvers, four .357-caliber Smith and Wesson revolvers, four .38-caliber revolvers, a 12-gauge homemade shotgun and three .22-caliber air rifles.