Police focused on reducing loose firearms in the city

CEBU, Philippines – Cebu City Police Office is now putting more attention to cases of loose firearms.

Superintendent Romeo Santander, chief of the Cebu City Intelligence Branch, said this is also in line with the order of Chief Superintendent Prudencio Tom Bañas, director of the Police Regional Office-7, to also pay attention to other illegal activities and not just on illegal drugs.

Santander said as of now, they are making a study about loose firearms as they observed most of the lawless elements used these kinds of weapons.

“Bale sa tanan. Even sa theft or robbery, they are using firearms so taas g’yud ang percentage (of loose firearms cases),” said Santander.

With this, he said they required all the police stations in Cebu City including the special police units to confiscate at least two firearms every month.

November has not yet ended, but they already have reached their “maximum quota” for this month, said Santander on Friday.

“We are happy to share with you nga na meet up na namo ang maximum quota gyud nga 15 firearms ang among na-confiscate and as early as now, lapas na mi sa quota,” he said.

Last Thursday and Friday, five persons were arrested in separate checkpoints and patrolling conducted by Cebu City policemen.

At around 4 p.m. last Thursday along Magallanes Street in Barangay Ermita, Cebu City, 21-year-old Jayboy Velez was arrested by personnel of Carbon Police Station after they reportedly confiscated from him a snub nose revolver without a serial number.

After an hour, another 18-year-old boy, Jacob Pangilinan, was also arrested by Carbon Police Station personnel who seized from him a cal. 22 black widow without a serial number along Progreso Street in Barangay Ermita.

On Friday night, 24-year-old Jepel Abellanosa joined Velez and Pangilinan inside Carbon Police detention cell after he was arrested with a homemade .22 caliber revolver with one live round during a checkpoint.

On the same night, two alleged recidivist offenders were also arrested by CIB operatives. The two were alleged to be noted robbers along General Maxilom Avenue.

21-year-old Arnel Cañedo and 19-year-old John Paulo Reyes yielded with a cal. 38 revolver with four live rounds and a cal. 45 pistol with five live rounds, respectively.

All arrested suspects will be facing charges for illegal possession of firearms. —/NSA (FREEMAN)