Cops recover guns, grenade from Masbate vice mayor, mayor

Batuan, Masbate. WIKIPEDIA MAP

MANILA, Philippines — The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) in Bicol seized on Wednesday firearms and a grenade after raiding the house of Batuan, Masbate Mayor Charmax Yuson and the resort owned by his father Vice Mayor Charlie Yuson.

The CIDG recovered from the residence of the mayor an M16 rifle, a magazine for caliber 5.56, three unfired 5.56 cartridges, and a fragmentation grenade.

Also recovered from the Yuson Beach Resort owned by the vice mayor are a “baby armalite” rifle with a magazine loaded with three bullets, two 12 gauge shotguns with 19 bullets, a caliber .45 pistol, three caliber .38 pistol with nine bullets, and a hand grenade, according to a report from the CIDG.

Senior Supt. Arnold Ardiente, CIDG regional director, told INQUIRER.net that the two were not in their houses during the raid and might have learned about the operation before it was carried out, he said.

Ardiente said they also arrested a certain Jeason Clemente Cabantac, staff at the vice mayor’s resort, whom police spotted allegedly carrying a shotgun during the operation.

Police also raided the house of Barangay Kagawad Severo Escote Basas but found no firearms from his residence. He was also not present during the raid, Ardiente said.

According to Ardiente, his unit received information from a tipster that led to the operation. He said the Yusons were allegedly maintaining a private armed group.

Charges of illegal possession of firearms and ammunition and illegal possession of an explosive will be filed in court against the Yusons, he said. /cbb