Raid in 3 civilian houses in Davao Sur yields high-powered firearms

DIGOS CITY — Authorities simultaneously raided three houses of armed civilians, two of them livestock buyers here, for alleged illegal possession of firearms amid the election gun ban around 11:55 pm. Thursday.

Armed with search warrants issued by Regional Trial Court Branch 19 Executive Judge Carmelita Sarno-Davin, operatives searched the house of Rommel Babaran Britanico, 46,a livestock buyer and resident of Barangay San Miguel here, where they recovered one UZI submachine, 9-mm pistol, two pieces metal magazine; 16 pieces live 9-mm ammunition and one hand grenade.

At the house of Babaran’s cousin Ruel Babaran, 42, police recovered a caliber .45 pistol with one metal magazine, six pieces of caliber .45 live ammunition and one piece inside a black holster.

Police also recovered a caliber 38 revolver with five live ammunition and a fragmentation grenade at the house of Bornlee Arnaiz Lopez, leading to the arrest of the suspect.

Police Lt. Col. Deozar Almasa, city police director, on Friday, said Babaran had attempted to pull out his firearm and accidentally discharged it on his groin and left leg. He was immediately brought to the Davao del Sur Provincial Hospital for treatment.

The two other suspects are now in the custody of Digos police while charges are being prepared against them.

Almasa said the operation is part of the Comelec gun ban. Orlando B. Dinoy, Inquirer Mindanao