THIRTY-six persons were arrested and another two are still at-large when the Pangasinan Police Provincial Office served 42 search warrants issued by various courts at the residences of persons subjects for violation of Republic Act 10591 and RA 9165 in simultaneous province-wide operations.

RA 10591 is the Comprehensive Firearms and Regulation Act or the law against loose firearms while RA 9165 is the Comprehensive Dangerous Drug Act.

P/Major Arturo Melchior Jr., deputy police-community affairs chief of the PPPO, lamented that three suspects in at least two operations were killed when they opened fire on lawmen who were about to enter their premises to serve the search warrants, prompting the latter to retaliate.

The latest armed encounter occurred on January 28 when joint elements of the police led by the Pangasinan PPO served the warrant of arrest issued by Regional Trial Executive Judge Magnolia Cayetano of Branch 56 at the house of the suspect, Manny Pascual, alias “Oyet”, of Barangay Papalyasen, Umingan.

The police reported that a sudden and brief firefight ensued when Pascual and his companion, Gerry Tabilon, a resident of Barangay Cabalitian, Umingan, immediately fired at the policemen who were about to enter the premises to serve the search warrant.

Two Caliber 38 pistols were found near the bodies of the suspects while policemen seized from the premises undetermined weight of shabu and drug paraphernalia.

The other encounter happened on January 28 in Sitio Longos, Barangay Pagal, San Carlos City that led to the neutralization of a gun-for-hire suspect, Dante de Guzman, alias “Boy de Guzman”, who opened fire at the policemen about to serve the warrant of arrest also issued by RTC Judge Cayetano, prompting the policemen to return the fire and killing the suspect.

P/Major Melchor said the 42 police operations conducted led to the seizure of 26 assorted firearms three hand grenades,18 assorted magazines, three hand grenades, 18 assorted magazines, 301 assorted ammunition, five empty shells, one air soft, one air gun butt and one cylinder of Cal. 38 pistol.

Also seized were three plastic sachets containing dried leaves and fruiting tops suspected to be marijuana, and 10 heat-sealed transparent plastic sachets containing white crystalline substance called shabu.

The simultaneous serving of search warrants is in line with the program of P/Colonel Ronald Gayo, provincial director, in a bid to seize loose firearms that may be used to terrorize peace-loving people and to intensify campaign vs. illegal drugs. (Leonardo Micua)

Share your Comments or Reactions

comments

Powered by Facebook Comments