Gunshop raided in Danao; workers arrested

POLICE yesterday raided a cooperative of gunmakers in Danao City, cutting short the livelihood of workers who were making high-powered firearms inside a dilapidated building in barangay Dungoan.

About P5-million worth of guns and ammunition were seized and 16 workers, including a woman, were arrested.

The building was occupied by the Workers League of Danao Multipurpose Cooperative (WOLRD-MPC).

The cooperative’s business permit expired in December last year, said Supt. Romano Cardino, assistant director of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group in Central Visayas (CIDG-7).

The raid began at 10 a.m. and ended early evening.

About 50 assorted firearms were seized, including .357 -caliber and .38-caliber revolvers, .45-caliber pistols, shotguns, .22-caliber revolvers and parts of high-powered firearms.

Abeth Villacarillo, a trustee of the cooperative, said they have yet to renew their business permit.

“We don’t have anywhere to go, it’s our livelihood,” said Marlito Juntillo, a gunmaker of five years.

Cooperative president Florito Roble, the subject of the search warrant issued by Regional Trial Court (RTC) Judge Silvestre Maamo, wasn’t around during the raid.

Villacarillo said the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) didn’t release their permit since they lacked requirements such as clearance from the Police Regional Office (PRO-7) to manufacture firearms.

She blamed the political conflict among Danao City officials as the reason for the delay in the issuance of their permits.

Villacarillo, a widow since last November, said she had grandchildren to support. Her late husband, Talilit, was former president of the cooperative.