Jun Torres

Gapan cops seize arms cache in raid

Police arrested Wednesday (June 18) a 65-year old man for possession if several high-powered firearms and ammunition.

City police chief Supt. Marlon D. Bingcang said his men raided the house of Danilo Ramos alias Danilo de Guzman, of Purok 5, Barangay Mangino, which yielded a .45 pistol, a .30 pistolized Carbine, a 12 guage shotgun, an M-16 baby Armalite rifle and hundreds of assorted ammunition.

Bingcang said the suspect tried to escape by blocking the road with a farm tractor upon seeing the approaching police patrol vehicle.

“Nagtatakbo iyung suspek at hinabol ng mga pulis at nakasako na raw iyung mga armas,” he said.

The suspect’s house located at the outskirts of the city was placed under police surveillance for two weeks amid reports that armed men were sighted several times in the area.

When asked by this reporter, the suspect admitted owning the guns but denied links with armed groups. He said he already owned the guns when he was still living in Bongabon, Nueva Ecija.

Charges of illegal possession of firearms and ammunition were filed against the suspect. Assistant city prosecutor Edwin S. Bonifacio recommended a bail of P80,000 for the suspect.

Bingcang also reported that a nine-day intensified police campaign from June 12 to 20 against loose firearms in the city yielded 12 high-powered firearms

He said the weapons were surrendered by some civilians, local traders and barangay officials who availed of the governement’s amnesty program.

The firearms and ammunition were also presented as a birthday gift to provincial police chief Senior Supt. Napoleon C. Taas during his 46th birthday celebration Friday (June 20).