LINGAYEN–The police have yet to determine the purpose of three armed men who were arrested two weeks ago for carrying high-powered firearms and packing over 200 rounds of ammunition.

Police Regional Director Chief Superintendent Ramon Gatan said the three men flatly refused to tell investigators what they were doing in Barangay Minien, Sta. Barbara.

Arrested were Ruben Rosario, 32; Orlando Antonio, 35; and Robin Gonzales, who were in possession of an M-14 rifle with seven magazines and 106 piece of live ammunition for Caliber 7.62; Ak-47 and four long magazines and 92 pieces of live ammunition, and one Caliber 45 pistol (Caspian) with one magazine and eight live ammunition.

All three have been charged with illegal possession of firearms and ammunition before the Regional Trial Court in Dagupan City.

Supt. Eric Noble, chief of police of Sta. Barbara, said the suspects were arrested en flagrante by joint police patrol operations, acting on a tip from a member of the community.

Gatan said one of the suspects was verified to have a pending case for murder while the two others have no known criminal record.

The police, however, believe the suspects, were recruited by a criminal group to conduct an armed operation in coordination with their still unidentified companions at the time of their arrests.

Gatan said although the suspects were arrested in a house near the residence of Sta. Barbara Mayor Reynaldo Velasco, a retired police deputy director general, “we have yet to establish if the mayor was the target. “

Mayor Velasco was out-of-town when the suspects were arrested.—LM

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