“Big Time” campaign nets guns, P1M drugs

CEBU, Philippines - The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group-7’s “One Time Big Time” campaign has resulted big, resulting to the confiscation of 35 guns, arrest of 12 suspects, and seizure of almost P1 million worth of illegal drugs.

The national support unit said that in three days of operation, its four provincial offices seized 35 high-powered and low-powered firearms and 343 bullets.

It also arrested 12 persons, including a Cebu town’s most wanted person, for possession of guns and illegal drugs, while the 80-gram drugs it seized was estimated to be worth P960,000.

CIDG-7 implemented at least six search warrants and one warrant of arrest in consonance with the directive of CIDG’s national headquarters for the conduct of simultaneous operations dubbed as “One Time Big Time” against criminal gangs, possession of illegal drugs, and illegal possession of firearms in Central Visayas.

CIDG-7 Director Ritchie Posadas said they launched the campaign in the region two days ago, with most of the firearms seized in Metro Cebu in one day alone.

The most recent operation was conducted yesterday morning in Barangay Lutac, City of Naga, Cebu that led to the arrest of Edgardo Saucejo, who yielded a .45 pistol, one 5.56 mm assault rifle, and 120 bullets.

Last Thursday, Antonio Dupal-ag, listed as the tenth most wanted person in Dumanjug, Cebu, was arrested in Barangay Bitoon, Dumanjug.

And while Edmundo Apostol eluded the police who implemented a search warrant in Barangay Cogon, Dumanjug, Cebu Thursday morning, authorities found three .45 pistols, one .357 revolver, one 22 mm revolver, five magazines for a .45 pistol, 41 assorted bullets, 28 disposable lighters, one digital weighing scale, and assorted drug paraphernalia.

On the same day, the police apprehended Maximo Tulo Jr. on Tupas Street, Barangay Suba, Danao City after they recovered one .357 revolver, three .38 revolvers, and eight bullets from his possession.

A hot pursuit operation was also conducted yesterday after the confiscation of three .45 pistols, five .38 revolvers, and five .22 caliber revolvers.

Meanwhile, Dan Abordo was arrested in Barangay Sundo-an, Manjuyod, Negros Oriental Thursday morning after yielding a .45 pistol, a .357 Magnum revolver, 50 bullets, four bullet magazines, four black holsters, and one steel handcuff.

In a separate police operation the same day, Victor Nayona was arrested in Barangay Anislag, Maribojoc, Bohol for possession of two medium-sized sachets of suspected shabu and drug paraphernalia.

Erwin Ilano, on the other hand, remains at large when the police conducted an operation in Barangay Poblacion, Maribojoc, Bohol also last Thursday. The police, however, confiscated two .38 revolvers, 32 assorted bullets, 26 small packs of suspected shabu, weighing scale, and assorted drug paraphernalia.

Last Wednesday, a police officer along with four others was arrested for carrying unlicensed firearms at Pier 1, Cebu City.

Police Officer 2 Romeo Santiago Bolaño, who is currently assigned at San Fernando Police Station, and companions Dexci Bontilao Gomonet, Raniel Dalosa Comandante, Benhur Fuentes Gamutan, and Joseph Sereno Lagura after an armed person alarm inside MV Filipinas Dapitan, which was bound for Cebu City from Dumaguete City.

The police recovered a 9mm pistol from Bolaño and found two .22 caliber rifles, another 9 mm pistol, a .40 pistol, an 8mm revolver, and several ammunition inside a black Strada pick-up van that was loaded in the ship.

On the same day, Jollybe Inso, considered as a level two drug pusher, proved slippery after he eluded arrest while his alleged cohorts Kevin Inso, Allan Alce, and Marcial Inso were apprehended by the police in Barangay Suba, Cebu City.

The joint operatives of CIDG-7, Cebu City Intelligence Branch operatives, and San Nicolas Police Station members seized around P700,000 worth of illegal drugs, P10,900 cash, assorted drug sniffing paraphernalia, one .45 pistol and seven bullets.

Posadas said that they would conduct the same “One Time Big Time” operation again in the coming days across the region. He said they aim to prevent the proliferation of private armed groups in Central Visayas.

For now, he said, all seized firearms would be subjected to a ballistic examination to identify if these were used in criminal activities in the region. – Grace Melanie I. Lacamiento/RHM (FREEMAN)