For ‘gunrunning, drug pushing’: Fireman, 6 others arrested

CEBU, Philippines - An active senior fire officer and six others who are allegedly part of a gang involved in an illegal gun trade were arrested last Sunday in a series of operations at Sitio LangLang, Barangay Cogon Cruz, Danao City.

After a month of police surveillance, Regional Trial Court Branch 25 Judge Jerry Dicdican issued a search warrant against suspect Senior Fire Officer 1 Roel Deiparine, 47.

Deiparine, an active officer of the Bureau of Fire and Protection based in Danao City, is reportedly part of the 12 identified members of the Arioja gang, known for gun running and illegal drug distribution in the place.

The police confiscated from him two unlicensed firearms – a .45 caliber pistol and a .38 caliber revolver.  The police also retrieved two medium and one small packets of suspected shabu.

Deiparine said the house where he was arrested along with six other individuals is owned by his father.  He denied having any knowledge of the structure being used as stockroom for loose firearms.

“Dili na akoa, sa ako man to papa.   Unya mura na man to og gi-abandonar. Bisag kinsa ra mosud didto. Wa ko kahibaw naa ba armas didto,” Deiparine said.

Deiparine is allegedly set to retire next month, but Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG)-7 operations officer Chief Inspector Chuck Barandog said he (Deiparine) is still considered an active officer, as the suspect failed to present his retirement order.

“All of them are members of the criminal gang. Based on our monitoring, he is involved in illegal drugs and illegal possession of firearms,” Barandog said.

Also arrested during the operation were Fernando and Hanse Batoon, Orlando and Jerry Manulat, Edgar Cuizon and Jerry Lavador.

Considered at large Lendi Cuizon Arioja, who is believed to be the gang leader, Joel Cuizon, Roy Barriga, Alvino Montecalvo, Bernardino Enriquez, and a certain “Dandy,” who is reportedly Arioja’s co-leader.

The operation yielded 120 grams of shabu repacked in different sizes with an estimated value of P1.4 million.

Also recovered from the operation were a total of 17 unlicensed firearms, five of which are high-powered, four homemade and eight low-powered firearms.

All illegal drugs confiscated had been turned over to Philippine National Police Crime Laboratory for evidence tracking, while the firearms will be subjected to ballistics examination.

The operation was conducted by the joint forces of CIDG-7 and the Cebu Provincial Police Office, Special Weapons and Tactics (CPPO-SWAT) team as part of the campaign against all forms of criminality.  (FREEMAN)