14 guns found in government bus

CEBU, Philippines — Two men were arrested Thursday night after police found 14 unlicensed firearms inside a bus owned by a local government unit in Samar on board a vessel in Pier 4, Cebu City.

Joel Pedrosa, 50, resident of Barangay Tinabanan, Marabut town, Samar, and Herman Gagmatan, 31, resident of Barangay Binokyahan, also in Marabut, were arrested after six .357 cal. revolvers, four .38 cal. revolvers, four .45 cal. pistols, and five extra magazines were found inside a box in the bus they were driving.

The box was placed in the overhead baggage area of the said bus, which had the markings of the municipality of Marabut.

According to Waterfront Police Station chief, Senior Inspector Joemar Pomarejos, they received a call from the management of a shipping line that the firearms were hidden inside a bus going to Ormoc, Leyte, on the MV Joyful Star.

The two suspects failed to present the necessary documents for the firearms. During questioning, they said that the bus was owned by the local government unit of Marabut, Samar in Leyte.

"Sila (two suspects) g’yud nagdala sa bus, later, we found out na ‘yung dalawang lalaki, they are municipal employees of a certain town in Marabut, Samar. Nakita natin ‘yung bus, meron itong name, of Marabut Municipality," Pomarejos said.

Cebu City Police Office chief, Senior Superintendent Royina Garma, said she has called the attention of the police in Samar to check on the LGU.

She said as the guns were enough to arm a private group, she is not discounting the possibility these will be used to intimidate people ahead of the upcoming midterm elections.

"Malapit na ang election, maraming pwedeng gawin sa baril na ‘yan kapag ‘yan napunta sa maling kamay, most likely mapupunta sa dangerous na grupo probably sa Samar," she said.

Garma confirmed that both suspects have named a local official in Samar, as their boss, although the identity of the official is kept confidential prior to further investigation.

She also asked the help of her former unit, the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, to help with the investigation.

CIDG-7 deputy chief, Chief Inspector Hector Amancia, said that both suspects only arrived in Cebu last Wednesday. He said that the firearms were handed to them somewhere in Barangay Banilad, Cebu City. 

Amancia said they will invite personnel of Metro Truck and Heavy Equipment to shed light on how the firearms were loaded and shipped inside the vessel. Amancia said if they refuse to cooperate they will be forced to subpoena them.

"Ang flow sa investigation diha magsugod sa Metro Truck and Heavy Equipment, if they refuse to follow or cooperate we will subpoena them," he said.

Garma will also investigate if the LGU is involved in the incident.

"Tignan natin kung may kinalaman din ba ang LGU dito. It's very obvious that an LGU vehicle was used in transporting unlicensed and undocumented firearms and it's very unfortunate na ‘yung ginamit na sasakyan ng gobyerno dun pa nilagay," Garma said.

Garma also received report that the said vehicle was just newly bought and worth around P1.5 million.

The firearms confiscated will be submitted to the PNP Crime Laboratory in the region for ballistics and cross-matching examination to determine if they were used in crimes perpetrated in Metro Cebu.

The suspects are temporarily detained at the Waterfront police station prior to the filing of charges against them.

Garma assured that CCPO is closely coordinating with port officials to zero in on the smuggling of contraband in the metro. She also expressed her gratitude to the shipping line for reporting the crime to the police.

She also said Marabut is a peaceful place but there are some shady groups that are consolidating in the area. — Marenyl Bolhano, USJ-R intern/BRP (FREEMAN)