Gun fabricating equipment, newly-built and repaired guns recovered by RSOTG operatives from a compound in Mayapyap Norte, Cabanatuan City as drive against loose firearms was intensified in the rundown of the synchronized national and local elections.
CABANATUAN CITY – An illegal gun factory was destroyed as eight people, seven of whom were gunsmiths from Cebu, were arrested and 28 assorted firearms were recovered in an operation in Barangay Mayapyap Norte here.
This, the police claimed to be a big leap in its campaign for a secure and safe May 13 elections.
Senior Supt. Crizaldo Nieves said operatives from the regional special operations task group (RSOTG) swooped down a compound reportedly owned by a certain Jocelyn San Juan-Espiritu that led to the recovery of various equipment in fabricating guns as well as newly built and repaired firearms.
Nieves said that suspect Henry San Juan, brother of the compound owner, fell in a buy-bust operation at about 2:25 p.m. while his workers were collared in subsequent search. They were identified as Renelito Boyno, Ramil Capute, Rowel Bueno, Jonathan Mayugas, Ricky Capute, Jacklou Saroga and Gilbert Manso, all of Cebu.
Nieves said the RSOTG operative, a special body created to run after wanted persons and secure a safe and honest May 13 mid-term elections, recovered from San Juan six cal. 38 pistols, two mobile phone units and P4,000 marked money.
The search was conducted on the strength of a warrant issued by Judge Ramon Pamular of Regional Trial Court Branch 32.
Among other firearms recovered were five homemade cal. 22 revolvers, one colt. 45, one cal. 8mm; two homemade Magnum 22 revolvers, ten homemade cal. 38 revolver, ten homemade cal .22 rifles and one Carbine rifle with nine live bullets and two rifle grenades.
Nieves said that operatives also recovered equipment for manufacturing and repairing guns, including three units of electric drill press machines, one unit of engraver, iron saws, portable grinder, and others.
They also confiscated several rounds of ammunition, according to Nieves.
Nieves said the campaign against gun owners and manufacturers “is one of the strategies that the NEPPO undertakes in order to attain its mission to have secured and fair election on May 13, 2013.”
But beyond elections, he noted, the successful operation is essential in maintaining peace and order. “This will erase misconception of violence in Nueva Ecija,” he said.
The suspects are charged with violations of Republic Act 98294, Republic Act 9516 and Comelec Resolution 9561-A.
Mayugas, who admitted working in gun manufacturing in Danao before he came here sometime in November 2012, said they are engaged only in repairing guns. He would not know who their clients are.
