2 held for illegal firearms in Camarines Sur

LEGAZPI CITY, Philippines — Two men have been arrested for illegal possession of firearms in Pamplona town in Camarines Sur, police said Saturday.

Senior Master Sergeant Edgar Pamplona, chief investigator of Pamplona police, said authorities responded to a report of alarm and scandal involving Jess Valencia, 25, in Barangay (village) Poblacion at around 6 p.m. on Friday.

Pamplona said when he was about to be arrested, Valencia immediately ran and fired shots.

The police were able to arrest him anyway and recovered from him an improvised shotgun “sumpak” with 12 gauge fired cartridge and a knife with scabbard.

At 11:30 a.m., Edward Neo, 50, of Barangay Del Rosario, was also arrested after he allegedly used a gun replica to intimidate Marlon Gutierrez, 51, in Barangay Tambo.

Pamplona said Neo filed a complaint in the barangay council over an issue on car repair in a shop owned by Gutierrez.

“While they were on the mediation process, they had a heated argument wherein Neo drew his firearm after he identified himself as a law enforcer and an agent of National Bureau of Investigation,” Pamplona said.

Pamplona said they are verifying if the suspect is really an agent of the said agency.

Confiscated from his possession was a 7.65mm gun replica.

The suspects will be charged with violation of the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act.