Firearms, gambling paraphernalia found inside vehicle at Butuan City checkpoint

MANILA, Philippines—A vehicle flagged down Thursday evening in Butuan City for questionable registration was found with firearms and gambling paraphernalia inside, Highway Patrol Group (HPG) director, Chief Superintendent Leonardo Espina said Friday.

Espina said that HPG personnel were conducting anti-carnapping operations in Barangay (village) Lower Doongan, Butuan City, around 6 p.m. Thursday when they spotted a green Toyota Revo (KAJ 960) without a 2011 Land Transportation Office (LTO) sticker. It was also found to have allegedly transferred illegally a plate number from a Suzuki car to the said vehicle.

However, when HPG officers tried to stop the car, the driver, later identified as Christopher Japitana, ignored the call of HPG personnel and instead increased his speed going toward Purok Molave, Pangabugan, Barangay Doongan in Butuan City, prompting law enforcers to give chase, Espina said.

The driver then abandoned his car and fled toward a grassy area upon reaching a mini-sawmill, Espina said.

Recovered from the abandoned vehicle were one M16AI Elisco Baby Armalite rifle, two .45-cal. pistols, one video karera machine, one weighing machine and around 10 kilograms of P1 coins, Espina said.

After verification, the seized vehicle was not, however, listed under the HPG Vehicle Information Management System for wanted cars, Espina said.

Meanwhile, Espina said that charges for violations of Presidential Decree 1866 (illegal possession of firearms) and 1602 (anti-gambling) would be slapped against Japita.—Jamie Marie Elona