By Christopher Lloyd Caliwan
MANILA – Police have arrested two gun-for-hire suspects and seized high-powered firearms in an operation in Pampanga province.
In a statement Thursday, Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) chief Maj. Gen. Nicolas Torre III said the suspects with aliases Antonio and his cousin Ariel were collared in an operation in Purok 5, Barangay Mapalad in Arayat town on Tuesday.
‘Antonio’ has standing arrest warrants for usurpation of authority (Article 177 of the Revised Penal Code), illegal possession of firearms and ammunition and a drug case.
During the operation, CIDG operatives recovered from the suspects a fragmentation grenade, two caliber .45 pistols, one of which has a silencer; one MK-9 9MM sub-machine gun, several magazines, and assorted ammunition, one police Identification Card with the name Maj. Antonio Oriendo Cerbito, one military Identification Card with name Major Antonio Oriendo Cerbito, and police and military uniforms.
Investigation revealed that the suspects are neither members of the Philippine National Police nor the Armed Forces of the Philippines.
The suspects will be charged with violations of Republic Act (RA) 10591 (Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act) and RA 9516 (Illegal Possession of Explosives), in relation to the Omnibus Election Code and the gun ban for the midterm elections, as well as usurpation of authority.
The operation is part of the CIDG’s intensified crackdown against loose firearms and criminal groups involved in gun-for-hire and gunrunning activities ahead of the midterm elections. (PNA)
