CARAGA policemen on Friday launched simultaneous anti-criminality operations in the region particularly targeting identified holders of loose firearms and supporting the New People’s Army resulting in the arrest of 70 suspects and the seizure of 107 illegal guns, Police Regional Office 13 director, Brigadier General Romeo M. Caramat Jr. announced yesterday.
In a report to Philippine National Police chief, General Debold M. Sinas, the PRO13 director said that the confiscated weapons are now being examined at the Regional Crime Laboratory Office amid the possibility they could have been used in the commission of crimes in the region.
Caramat said that the conduct of the Simultaneous Anti-Criminality Law Enforcement Operations previously known as ‘One-Time, Big-Time’ anti-crime drive on Friday also left one armed suspect dead following a shootout with officers.
He said that during the conduct of the SACLEO in Caraga region on Friday, PRO13 officers simultaneously served 82 search warrants for violation of Republic Act 10591 or the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulations Act of 2013 issued by different courts.
Caramat said that the raids resulted in the recovery of one caliber 5.56 Galil automatic rifle, two KG-9 rifles, one cal. 30 Carbine rifle and 103 small arms consisting of 32 units of cal. .45 pistols, three 9mm semi-automatic pistols, 54 cal. .38 revolvers, one cal. .22 rifle and 13 units of 12-gauge shotguns.
“The conduct of the day-long simultaneous anti-criminality operations in Caraga particularly focused on holders of loose firearms in order to arrest the possibility these weapons may be used to commit crimes in the region. Further, most of the search warrants were issued on identified supporters or affiliates of the NPA,” Caramat said.
The official said that the Surigao del Sur Police Provincial Office implemented 22 of the 82 search warrants accounting for 30 firearms, four explosives and 20 suspects. One of the suspects was also killed in the Surigao de Sur police operation.
The Agusan del Sur PPO served 18 search warrants leading in the recovery of 24 illegal weapons and the arrest of 13 suspects while the Agusan del Norte PPO implemented 14 search warrants which resulted in the recovery of 18 firearms and one grenade and the arrest of 14 targets. On the other hand, the Surigao del Norte PPO served two search warrants which led in the confiscation of 11 firearms and the arrest of seven suspects.
Charges for violation of RA 10591 are being readied against the arrested suspects, the official said.
