1 killed, 2 arrested in anti-illegal guns operation in Quezon

Candelaria (shaded red) in Quezon (Image from Google Maps)

LUCENA CITY — A man wanted for illegal possession of firearms was killed in an alleged encounter with police officers in Candelaria town in Quezon province early Saturday, according to Senior Supt. Osmundo de Guzman, chief of the Quezon Police Provincial Office.

Police officers went to Barangay San Isidro around 6 a.m. to serve a search warrant to Magtanggol De Castro at his house for violation of the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act (Republic Act No. 10591).

The officers chanced on De Castro and his associates, Joel Salud and Julius Dagli, while engaged in a drug session inside De Castro’s house.

Sensing the presence of police officers, De Castro grabbed his firearm and fired at them. A running gun battle ensured.

De Castro was hit and was taken to United Candelaria Doctors hospital, but died while being treated.

Investigators found De Castro’s still loaded .45-caliber pistol, two spent cartridge cases for the istol, and two spent cartridge cases for 5.56-mm ammunition, and an inside holster at the shootout scene.

During the search inside the house, the officers recovered nine magazines and 35 rounds of M16 rifle ammunition, a magazine and 16 rounds of .45-caliber pistol ammunition, a hand grenade, several empty shells for .45-caliber and 9-mm ammunition.

The raiders also recovered two sachets of crystal meth, or shabu, weighing 5.87 grams, which is worth P26,415 in the street market.

Authorities also seized two hand grenades from Salud and Dagli, who were arrested by police. /atm