By BOY RYAN B. ZABAL
KALIBO, Aklan — A man owning unregistered firearms was arrested in Barangay Rosario, Malinao town.
Pieces of ammunition for high-powered guns were recovered from the house of 34-year-old Paquito Yeban.
Among the seized items were five live ammunition for an M14 rifle, live ammunition for a 12-gauge shotgun, seven fired cartridges of a .45-caliber pistol, a live ammunition for a .45-caliber pistol, a pouch for a 12-gauge shotgun ammunition, and five fired 12-gauge shotgun shells.
Operatives of the Aklan Public Safety Company and the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) Aklan raided Yeban’s house on Saturday on the strength of a search warrant issued by a regional trial court here.
Senior Inspector John Paul Tovera, CIDG provincial chief, in a radio report said the raid followed the discovery that Yeban had unregistered firearms.
No firearms, however, were recovered during the raid, Tovera said. Yeban claimed that he lost his guns when typhoon “Frank” hit the province in June 2008, he said.
“Nagbabantay lang siya ng palayan, pero may mga armas,” Tovera said. “Hindi naman siya gumagawa ng baril. Posible na ang mga baril ay naitago sa ibang lugar, napahiram o naibenta ng suspect.”
‘TRIGGER-HAPPY’
It was learned that Yeban is known in Barangay Rosario for arbitrarily firing his firearms and causing alarm and scandal.
Senior Superintendent Jomil John Trio, Aklan police deputy director for operations, disclosed that Yeban was placed under surveillance after failing to renew his shotgun’s expired license in 2007.
“May mga empty shells ng shotgun, .45-caliber at bala pa ng M14 during the raid, indicating that he fired such guns before,” Trio said.
Yeban was detained in the Kalibo police station. He is facing charges for violation of the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act.
Three weeks ago, the CIDG, Aklan Public Safety Company and the Malinao police also seized several firearms and ammunition in Barangay San Ramon, Malinao.
Police identified the suspect as 63-year-old Carlito dela Cruz, a gunsmith.
Recovered from him were three .22-caliber revolvers, four .357-caliber Smith and Wesson revolvers, four .38-caliber revolvers, a 12-gauge homemade shotgun, and three .22-caliber air rifles. (Aklan Forum Journal/PN)
