Catmon trader’s home yields guns

CEBU, Philippines — A businessman based in Catmon town, northern Cebu is now being hunted after several unlicensed firearms, including high-powered guns, were recovered in his residence during an implementation of a search warrant on Monday morning.

The subject of the operation, Marlon Butanas, owner of a pastry business and resident of Barangay Panalipan, Catmon, was not around during the implementation.

However, operatives of the Provincial Intelligence Branch (PIB) headed by Police Superintendent Joie Pacito Yape arrested a certain Ricardo Ramos, 43, who served as the guard of the compound.

Ramos yielded a caliber .45 pistol but could not present license papers for it.

Yape said the operation was carried out by virtue of a search warrant issued by Judge Jerry Dicdican of Regional Trial Court Branch 25 of Danao City. The PIB earlier received a complaint from a concerned citizen regarding Butanas’ alleged possession of several unlicensed firearms.

"Naa ta'y complainant nga nag-ingon nga magdala-dala daw og armas kani daw mismo si Butanas," said Yape.

Police, during a check, later found that Butanas was indeed not licensed to possess guns.

In his house, operatives recovered one Smith and Wesson frontier revolver with ammunition, one .45 caliber pistol, a .380 caliber, one .22 rifle with scope, two KG9 sub-machine gun, one Ingram, and one FL 9mm lugger and assorted magazines and ammunition.

Ramos told the police that the recovered firearms were for his boss' protection, considering that the latter is a businessman.

But Yape said Butanas should have tapped the services of a private security agency or acquired licenses for the firearms.

Yape also said they are conducting deeper investigation into the case, not discounting the possibility that Butanas may be involved in illegal activities.

He said all the recovered firearms will be subjected to ballistic examination to check whether they were used in previous crimes.

Ramos, for his part, said the guns seized were merely for protection from lawless elements in their area.

Ramos is now temporarily detained at the PIB office awaiting filing of appropriate charges. Butanas will also be included in the filing of case for the violation of Republic Act 10591 or the Illegal Possession of Firearms and Ammunitions.

Police will also check the records to see if Ramos has pending cases in his native place in Mindanao.

Initial inquiry revealed that the firearms were sourced from Danao City, which is said to be home to makers of improvised guns.

Police said they will verify these reports, especially since Cebu Provincial Police Office Director Edgar Alan Okubo has directed them to neutralize alleged illegal gun manufacturers and distributors in Danao City.

Police Superintendent Jaime Quicho, CPPO deputy director for administration, encouraged owners of loose firearms to immediately surrender them to the police before they become a subject of operation. (FREEMAN)