NABBED FOR GUNS. The five arrested people sitting on the roadside pavement at the police checkpoint along Km. 80 in Sulop, Davao del Sur while being processed by a personnel of the Criminal Investigation and Detection group (CIDG). The suspects were arrested Friday night (May 10, 2019). (Photo courtesy of CIDG-11)
DIGOS CITY -- A barangay captain and his four fully-armed companions were arrested in a police checkpoint along Km. 80, Barangay Kiblagon in Sulop, Davao del Sur on Friday night.
Major Francis Sonza, the provincial team leader of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), said the suspects, on board a Strada pickup truck, were flagged down at about 7:30 p.m. by a composite team from the Davao Sur Police Mobile Force Company (DSMFC), the Regional Mobile Force Battalion (RMFB) 11 (Davao), and local police of Sulop town, who were conducting a routine checkpoint.
Sonza identified those arrested as Barangay Capt. Reynaldo Jaloring Malayang, 41 of Barangay Lapu-Lapu; Luis Barrios Duterte, 47, driver, of Barangay Poblacion; Willy Manggaga Alconera, 43, farmer, of Barangay Lapu-Lapu; Ramon Oquialda Paras, 63, Barangay Poblacion, all from Malalag town in Davao del Sur; and Roger Delegero Neri, 58, a retired member of the Army, of Purok Durian, Barangay Singaw in Kidapawan, North Cotabato.
Sonza said Capt. Edward Talaboc, DSMFC team leader, flagged down the black pickup truck with five people on board when the firearms laid on the floor of the vehicle were spotted, prompting the policeman to direct the passengers to step out of the vehicle.
The thorough inspection yielded more firearms and ammunition. When sought for documents, Sonza said the group could not present papers to support the carrying and possession of firearms.
Seized from the vehicle were four caliber .45 pistols with eight bullets in each magazine; an M16 Hydra-Matic rifle loaded with 30 rounds of ammunition and two spare magazines with live ammunition; a homemade 9-mm. automatic rifle and 92 bullets loaded in four magazines; and one homemade shotgun with seven pieces of 12-gauge ammunition.
The suspects were brought to the Sulop police station for further investigation and processing for filing of charges against them for illegal possession of firearms and ammunition (Republic Act 10591), and for violating the Commission on Elections gun ban of the Omnibus Election Code.
Lt. Col. Edilberto Leonardo, director of CIDG-11, said the suspects will face multiple charges.
“We will relentlessly run after criminals, private armed groups and other violators of the law, especially this election period,” Leonardo said.
He urged the public to help the CIDG by reporting violations of the Omnibus Election Code, the Revised Penal Code, and other special laws.
“We will act promptly on your concern,” he said. (PNA)
