4 nabbed for illegal possession of firearms, ammunition in Quezon

LUCENA CITY – Four individuals, including a retired Army soldier, were arrested for possession of illegal firearms and ammunition in Tayabas City, Lopez and Padre Burgos towns in Quezon province on Saturday and Sunday, police said.

Police armed with search warrants arrested farmer Juanito Cruz who was caught in possession of several unlicensed firearms with ammunition inside his house in Barangay (village) Kinagunan Ilaya around 6 a.m. Saturday., Colonel Audie Madrideo, Quezon police chief, said in a report Sunday.

Authorities seized one grease gun, one caliber .45 pistol with a magazine loaded with 17 bullets, one caliber .9mm pistol and 29 bullets, and two improvised shotguns.

In Lopez town, retired Army soldier Benedicto Balois, 59, was also arrested by authorities armed with search warrants in Barangay Bebito around 8:20 a.m. Saturday.

Police confiscated one rifle grenade with 11 pieces of M203 high explosives ammunition which were all found undocumented.

Tayabas police also armed with search warrants nabbed Alvin de los Santos, 37, who was caught in possession of an unlicensed caliber .38 revolver loaded with six bullets inside his house in Barangay Calumpang around 2 a.m. Sunday.

The same police unit also collared Leo Coronel, 33, who was found in possession of eight bullets for caliber .45 pistol in his residence in Barangay Wakas around 12:30 a.m. also on Sunday.

The suspects were detained in police jails and face charges for violation of Republic Act 10591 (Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act). /je