Cache of guns, ammos seized in Pasacao, CAMSUR

NAGA CITY (Dec 10, 2011) – The Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 21 ordered this week the detention of three residents of the port town of Pasacao, Camarines Sur at the Tinangis Provincil Jail in Pili on charges of Illegal Possession of Firearms and Ammunition under Republic Act 8294

 A joint police-army team conducted an entrapment operation in Barangay Sta. Rosa Del Norte in the said town and recovered high-powered firearms and large quantity of ammunitions in possession of the suspects.

On Wednesday (Dec. 7) Camarines Sur Police director Sr. Supt. Procopio Gonzales Lipana identified the suspects as: Ricardo Basmayor Buena, 49, resident of Pulang Lupa, Barangay Balogo; Salvador Mirandilla Pepanio, 34, of  Barangay Odicon; an elderly resident, Rodolfo Masotes Pepanio, 60, of Barangay Odicon - all from the municipality of Pamplona.

Lipana said the joint entrapment operation conducted by the Police provincial intelligence section, the Pasacao Municipal Police and elements of the 91^st Division Recon  Company of the Philippine Army under team leader Police Chief Inspector Alejandro Monge seized 2 Armalite rifles (M-16) with defaced serial numbers; 2 Ingram Machine pistols with serial numbers 961160 and 091196; 1 non-functional handgun; and 2 silencers for Ingram.

Cache of ammunitions were also recovered:  1 long and 7 short magazines for M-16; 3 Ingram magazines (all loaded); 3 pieces of shells for 12-guage shotgun; 43 rounds of ammunition for 5.56-MM; 4 bullets for Caliber 38 revolver and 9 rounds of ammos for 9-MM pistol.

Intelligence sources said the suspects belong to an alleged crime group that stores guns and ammos for possible criminal activities in the province of Camarines Sur.

On other matters, Police director Lipana also said that 8 policemen were given meritorious commendation for the successful arrrest of Romeo Sta. Ana, a suspected member of an armed robbery gang operating in Calabanga, Camarines Sur.

In the said operation conducted in Barangay Quinale, Sta. Ana violently resisted arrest and hacked the head of one of the arresting officers, PO2 Junny Cris P. Curba.