High-powered firearms, ammos seized in GenSan raids

GENERAL SANTOS CITY--Police operatives recovered several high-powered firearms and ammunition in separate raids in two villages here in the last two days.

Chief Supt. Marcelo Morales, Region 12 police director, said Tuesday the illegal firearms were seized from the houses of three suspects during the search operations on Sunday and Monday in Barangays Labangal and Bawing.

Armed with 11 search warrants, Morales said elements from the Police Regional Office (PRO)-12 and the Makar police station swooped down on a community situated at a disputed property in Espina Estate, Barangay Labangal early Sunday.

Operatives arrested a resident identified as Rocky Sirag after yielding an improvised Barrett rifle with two caliber 50 live bullets and a loaded improvised rifle grenade, he said.

Based on their records, Sirag has a pending arrest warrant for grave coercion.

Morales said a 12-gauge shotgun with five bullets and a caliber 45 handgun with seven bullets were found at the house of Jeffrey Taban, who was not around during the operation.

In Barangay Bawing, he said joint PRO-12 and Tambler police station personnel served search warrants in four houses in Purok Upper London, with one turning out positive for illegal firearms.

He said the operatives arrested resident Abubakar Palalisan following the recovery of a Bushmaster rifle and a 5.56 long rifle with 58 live bullets at his house.

Prior to the operations, Morales said they received information regarding the proliferation of illegal firearms in the two communities.

Police are verifying the possible involvement of the suspects in criminal activities, especially in the spate of shooting incidents in the city.

Morales said he has ordered the tracking of the original owners of the seized firearms. The suspects would be charged with violation of Republic Act 10591 or the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act. (PNA)