DUMAGUETE CITY – Philippine National Police (PNP) authorities here have filed criminal charges against a man from whom a cache of firearms, ammunition and illegal drugs were seized during a police operation in Barangay Candau-ay, this city over the weekend.
Suspect Rolando Villanueva Truno, Jr., was presented Tuesday to the City Prosecutor’s Office for inquest after he was arrested late Sunday afternoon during the service of a search warrant at his residence in Casa Alicia in Barangay Candau-ay, said Superintendent Jonathan Pineda, police chief of Dumaguete.
He disclosed that police investigators are now trying to determine whether the suspect is linked to the spate of shooting incidents here, considering the number of firearms and ammunition that were confiscated from him.
Recovered during the search were one unit caliber .45 pistol, two-toned color Colt MK IV Series 80 with Serial Number 219455; one piece extended magazine for caliber .45; ten rounds of live ammunition for caliber .45; one piece short magazine for caliber .45; six rounds of live ammunition for caliber .45; one piece short magazine for M-16 rifle; one round live ammunition for cal. 7.62; 25 rounds of live ammunition for cal. 5.56; 15 rounds of live ammunition for caliber 9mm and two pieces of M4 Rifle replica (Airsoft).
Also seized were one piece medium-sized transparent plastic sachet containing suspected shabu powder; three improvised glass tooters; 12 pieces of transparent plastic sachets containing suspected shabu residue; tin foil containing suspected shabu residue; a small digital weighing scale, disposable lighters, and other suspected drug paraphernalia.
Operatives of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group-Negros Oriental led by Sr. Insp. Deogracias P. Diaz III and the Dumaguete City Police Station led by Sr. Insp. Ian Paul Arapols, under the direct supervision of Supt. Pineda conducted the search by virtue of a search warrant issued by Negros Oriental Executive Judge Gerardo Paguio, Jr., dated July 10, 2018.
According to Supt. Pineda, they will submit to the PNP Crime Laboratory here the firearms for ballistics test and comparison with pieces of evidence collected in previous shooting incidents in Dumaguete City.
"Hindi namin ma determine kung bakit marami siyang armas (we cannot determine why he has a stash of firearms),” he said, adding that the police operatives had acted on a tip from an informant that the suspect was in possession of firearms and ammunition.
The suspect is now detained at the Dumaguete City Police Station’s lock-up facility following his arrest, said Pineda.
He was charged with violation of Republic Act 10591, otherwise known as the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act, and Sec. 11 and Sec. 12 of Article 2 of Republic Act 9165 of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002. (PNA)
