3 held for illegal firearms in Oriental Mindoro, Palawan

CITY OF CALAPAN -– A tricycle driver and two security guards were arrested on Saturday for illegal possession of firearms in Palawan and Oriental Mindoro.

Arrested was Aljen Rivadavia, 42, at 5:45 a.m. in Sitio (sub-village) Sampaguita, Barangay Bagsok, Socorro town, Oriental Mindoro, according to Lt. Col. Socrates Faltado, Mimaropa police information officer.

Armed with a search warrant issued by Judge Harry Jiminola of the Regional Trial Court Branch 41 in Pinamalayan town dated May 28, police arrested Rivadavia and confiscated a 12-gauge shotgun and 11 rounds of live ammunition from him.

In Barangay Pasadeña, El Nido, Palawan, police arrested two security guards for firing their unlicensed gun about 7 a.m.

Faltado said El Nido police responded to a phone call from a concerned citizen about armed men in their place who fired a gun once.

They caught guards Rico Barrun, 32, and Angel Regala, 35, carrying a 12-gauge shotgun and a .38-caliber gun, both loaded, while walking near the beach.

The suspects were asked about the firearm license and duty detail order from the security agency but both failed to present any documents.

In Marinduque province, police were looking for bus driver Mariel Mabute, 32, after a .38-caliber gun and 12 rounds of live bullets were found in his residence at 6:10 a.m. in Sitio Looban, Barangay Balanacan in Mogpog town.

Faltado said police implemented a search warrant issued by Judge Junelet Mataro of the Municipal Trial Court against Mabute in his house but the suspect was not around. (Editor: Leti Boniol)