8 arrested in raids on Cebu illegal gun factories

P/Sr. Supt. Patrocinio Comendador (left) Cebu Provincial Police Office (CPPO) director presents to Chief Supt. marcelo Garbo, Director Police Regional Office of Central Visayas the confiscated P1 Million worth of illegaly manufactured firearms parts and some 4 peaces of .45 cal.pistols in a join buy bust operation with the elements of the Provincial Intellegents Bureau (PIB) and the Danao City Police operatives.(CDN PHOTO/JUNJIE MENDOZA)

CEBU CITY, Philippines – The police arrested eight persons and seized several firearms, gun parts and equipment valued at around P1 million in separate raids Thursday on illegal gun manufacturing operations in Danao City.

Those arrested were identified as Jaime Silverio Sr. and Vivencio Cabaque Villasan of Barangay (village) Poblacion, Danao City, and Antonio Galon Gian, Normanito Minoza Gian, Ildefonso Banzon Capitan, Benedicto Ancos Manulat, Eldebrando Tito Gian and Gomersindo Batoon Bayo in Barangay Taboc, Danao City.

The police also seized four .45-caliber pistols and hundreds of barrels, sliding and other parts of assorted firearms.

Silverio and Villasan were caught selling barrels and revolver cylinders to undercover police operatives in Sitio (sub-village) Cambiohan, Barangay Poblacion, Danao City.

In a follow-up buy-bust operation, the police also arrested Antonio Galon Gian who was also selling barrels, revolver cylinders and slides inside his residence in St. Peter Village, Barangay Taboc, Danao City. The five others were caught fabricating gun spare parts inside the compound of Gian.

Police Regional Director Chief Superintendent Marcelo Garbo on Friday said the raids were conducted as part of their campaign against loose firearms in the region in preparation for the 2013 elections.

Senior Superintendent Patrocinio Comendador Jr., chief of the Cebu Provincial Police Office, said that the arrest of the eight suspects and the seizure of the gun parts would reduce the supply of illegally manufactured arms in Danao City by around 80 percent.

Comendador explained that the gun manufacturing operation of Gian was the biggest, so far, that they have apprehended.

He explained that based on the number of seized barrels, the arrested persons could have finished at least 20 firearms daily.

In an interview with reporters, Eldebrando Gian admitted being a gun maker and said he was paid on the basis of the number of guns he completed.

He refused to identify their financiers.

The arrested alleged gun makers are to be charged with violating Republic Act 8294 or manufacturing unlicensed firearms.