The Quezon City police swooped down on a slum community late Thursday night and rounded up close to 200 men, one of whom yielded a high-powered firearm and a grenade, in what officials considered a preemptive strike against potential troublemakers in the May 13 elections.
The latest staging of the QCPD’s “Oplan Galugad” (search) booked 188 men for violations ranging from drinking liquor in public, illegal gambling, and possession of unlicensed firearms and illegal drugs.
In a press conference Friday, QCPD director Senior Supt. Richard Albano said the saturation drive was meant “to thwart any possible eventuality” that could disrupt Monday’s mid-term elections.
Three men remained in detention after being arrested in San Roque II, Barangay Bagong Pag-asa, including Eddie Sarif, 28, who was caught keeping an unlicensed AK-47 rifle with ammunition, a Garand rifle and a hand grenade.
David Macao, a security guard, yielded an improvised shotgun, while Ernesto Cartagena, 23, was caught with a fan knife.
QCPD-Masambong station commander Supt. Pedro Sanchez said his men chanced upon Sarif while he was cleaning the AK-47 inside his home. The grenade and the other rifle were later found in the house.
“(The AK-47) was well maintained. But Sarif claimed that it was not his and that somebody just asked him to keep it,” Sanchez said.
Investigators were holding Sanchez for possible links to a gun-for-hire or robbery group, the official added.
The majority or about 120 of the 188 men rounded up were cited for violating the city ordinance against drinking liquor in public places.