More raids yield more firearms, explosives

CEBU, Philippines — The continuing raid on the compound of the Teveses in Brgy. Caranoche, Sta. Catalina town, Negros Oriental has yielded anew various firearms, explosives and other illegal items which were found in a dugout 10 to 12 feet under the ground.

Yesterday, the third day of the search, improvised explosive devices, including improvised RPG, live ammunition, empty shells, parts of a pistol and other suspected items used in bombing were recovered by elements of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) at the HDJ Agri-Venture Corp. compound in Brgy. Caranoche.

The compound is allegedly owned by Pryde Henry Teves, brother of Negros Oriental Third District Rep. Arnie Teves, who is being linked to the murder of Governor Roel Degamo.

The CIDG has implemented the search warrant in the compound starting on Friday, March 24.

According to Police Colonel Thomas Valmonte, chief of CIDG’s legal division, the raid stemmed from the search warrant issued by an executive judge in Cebu City for possible violation of illegal possession of firearms.

Authorities have recovered long and short firearms in the area.

“There is M14, then short firearms, 45, 38 and 9 mm caliber. 3 IEDs, and one RPG and thousands of live ammunition, and we also found empty shells that we call it now as fired shells and fire bullets,” said Valmonte.

The seized explosives, ammunition and other items were found in the dugout 10 to 12 feet below the ground. Operatives started digging at 5 in the afternoon and found the items in about an hour.

All pieces of evidence were recovered within the premises of the compound of HDJ company, according to Valmonte.

Apart from ammunition and weapons, they also recovered assorted pictures of the late Gov. Degamo, a sketch, and a picture of a building and money.

“Meron pong nakuha na cash money sa van, ito naman pong van ay itinuro ng ating witness,” said Valmonte. “We have found that money, so we have to account it.”

“Itong tatlong suspects allegedly sabi nila one Nigel Electona, he is the chief security, personal security of Pryde Henry Teves, at ito namang dalawa ay mga tao niya,” Valmonte added.

Valmonte clarified though that their operation is not related to the massacre in Pamplona, Negros Oriental because it is part of CIDG's flagship program Oplan Paglalansag, a campaign against illegal possession of firearms.

Pryde Henry was declared winner in the last gubernatorial race against Degamo but was unseated after the Commission on Elections (Comelec) ruled in favor of the latter in his election protest.

Separate searches

Meanwhile, two separate operations implementing search warrants against two other suspects Nigel Electona and Marvin Halaman also yielded several firearms and ammunition.

In Amparo’s Village, Brgy. Villareal, Bayawan City where Electona lives, the following were recovered: a homemade caliber .45 pistol with two magazines, 11 live ammos for .45 pistol, one hand grenade, pieces of paper with photos of Gov. Degamo, Pamplona area map, house route and picture of the house gate of the Degamos.

Electona is regarded as one of the suspects in the Pamplona murders.

In Purok Bungalow, Brgy. Suba, Bayawan City, where another suspect, Halaman, allegedly lives, authorities seized an improvised rifle, an Ingram caliber 9mm with magazine, fragmentation grenade, live ammos and assorted photos of Gov. Degamo.

Electona has been arrested but Halaman remains at large.  – JMD (FREEMAN)