JOSE PANGANIBAN, Camarines Norte (July 10 2012) - A big mine operator in this locality posted a bail totaling Php.288,000 to avoid arrest on charges for violation of RA-8294, or the “Illegal Possession of firearms, Ammunitions and Explosives” law.
The Provincial Police Office (PPO) of Camarines Norte reported Monday (July 9) that two residences of mining-operator Ronnie Basar Habitan in Jacinto and Alakan Streets at barangay Plaridel in this town yielded caches of ammunitions, guns and explosives over the weekend in a raid conducted by joint Intelligence operatives of the PNP national headquarters, regional intelligence unit-5, and the PPO public safety company and the local police.
Camarines Norte Police director, Senior Supt. Jose Lipa Capinpin said that the seizure of ordnance was conducted on the strength of two search warrants issued by Judge Mariano Dela Cruz Jr. of RTC, branch 22, Manila.
Seized from Habitan’s two houses were: 4 boxes of ammunition for Cal. 45; 3 boxes ammunition for Cal. 9mm; 9 boxes ammo. for Cal. 40; 1 box slug for Cal. 40; 1 box slug for Cal. 45; 2, silencers for long firearms; 1, bolt assembly for M-16 rifle; 1,Cal. 38 pistol, (ARMSCOR 22) with 5, ammunitions.
Other seized firearms consisted of 1, Cal. 9mm pistol (model BRYCO-59); 1, magazine for Cal. 9mm loaded with 8 bullets; 8, dynamite sticks (Nitro); and 10 meters safety time-fuse.
The court set the bail at P36,000 for each item seized from Habitan.
Meanwhile, Police director Capinpin has directed Jose Panganiban Police Chief Samson Belmonte to step-up efforts to arrest the suspects on the killing of Helen Trading employee, Nona Defeo Talento, 41, who was killed and robbed of Php 700,000 in cash by armed men at the town’s public market noon time of July 4.
The incident drew public concern on the increasing occurrence of bold armed robberies in full public view and broad daylight. (SONNY SALES)