Drug Paraphernalia also seized: Former mayor falls for guns

CEBU, Philippines - Medellin councilor Ricardo “Ricky” Ramirez, the former mayor of the town, was arrested early yesterday morning with police seizing unlicensed firearms from his house.

Operatives of the Provincial Intelligence Branch headed by Police Supt. Joie Yape entered and searched Ramirez’ residence in Barangay Caputatan Sur in Medellin by virtue of a warrant issued by Judge Jacinto Fajardo, Jr.

The firearms recovered include two M4/16 rifles with a telescope; a caliber 30 rifle; a caliber 22 rifle with telescope; a .9mm caliber pistol with magazine and live ammunition; a .45 caliber pistol with magazine and ammunition; two air guns; eight steel magazines and live ammunition; assorted magazines of a caliber .22 pistol; and assorted empty shells.

Yape’s team also recovered assorted drug paraphernalia and a weighing scale.

Yape said they monitored Ramirez for three months before hatching the operation yesterday.

Chief Supt. Jose Mario Espino, director of the Police Regional Office - 7, tagged Ramirez as a high value target.

On his Facebook page, Ramirez said one of the rifles was given by his old friend, Rene Olivar.

“Ang nakuha nila nga mga live ammunition gamay ra kaayu… apan ang daghan kaayu ang mga basiyu nga murag tunga sa sako kay lage ako man tigumon niadto inig human namu ug practice shooting sa quarry sa Antipolo ug makita man nga gitaya na sa kadugay sa panahon,” he said.

Ramirez also denied having a private army or goons.

Espino said the firearms from Ramirez’ house will be subjected to ballistic examination to see if they were used in crimes. He said there is a possibility that the guns were used in the May 2016 elections.

Drugs?

Espino said intelligence reports linked Ramirez to illegal drugs and he allegedly distributed illegal drugs in Medellin.

Drug personalities arrested in the past have allegedly identified Ramirez as being in the illegal drug trade and acquisition of loose firearms.

Still on his Facebook page, Ramirez denied the allegations. He also said that the drug paraphernalia found at his house are owned by a former employee who was into illegal drugs.

“Last year sa diha nibiya nako pagka mayor gi-imbitar ko sa bag-ong hepe sa police makig istorya. Sa diha nga nagkita mi iya ko gisultihan nga duna syay order ipa investigate daw ko bahin sa illegal drugs kay naay istorya apil ko sa pamaligya. Ako siya gi ingnan nga salamat kaayu nga mao nay imung buhaton kay karon nga dili nako. Mayor manug an na siguro ang mga tawo kanimu parte sa akong partisipasyon labina kay wala nakoy gahum ug wala na silay kahadlukan sa akoa. Ako siya gi hangyu nga damtag unom ka buwan ug wala gani kay makuha nga ebidensiya tagai ko'g certification nga basis a imung investigation negative imung findings,” his post reads.

Ramirez will face charges for violating for illegal possession of firearms and for possession of drug paraphernalia.

He is currently under police custody.

No politics

Espino said politics have nothing to do with Ramirez’ arrest.

The current Medellin mayor, Joven Mondigo, Jr., also urged the public to avoid putting any political color into the arrest.

"As much as possible, I don't want the people to politicize the issue kay because this is different, walay labot ang politika niani," Mondigo said.

He also advised Ramirez to face the charges.

"Dugay na kaayo nga storya-storya ang taga-Medellin, naa man mga idea noh, ang mga tawo, dili man kaayo dako ang lungsod. Naay mga hugon-hugon... kini, police matter man ni and I'm sure ang mga pulis naay mga lig-on nga mga ebidensya mao ilaha gikuha," Mondigo said.

He said Ramirez may also face administrative charges upon the discretion of the Ombudsman or the Provincial Board.

 Ramirez served as mayor of Medellin town for at least nine years.

He is not new to controversies. In 2010, he was accused of killing his bodyguard and in May 2016, was involved in a brawl with former Capitol security chief Loy Madrigal. (FREEMAN)