BY GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The series of raids and buy-bust operations on Dec. 12 in Negros Occidental led to the apprehension of 13 suspects and the confiscation of seven assorted guns with ammunition and suspected shabu, police said.
Four were apprehended in raids in Isabela and La Castellana, that yielded six assorted firearms with ammunition.
Armed with a search warrant issued by La Carlota Regional Trial Court Judge Cyclamen Jison- Fernandez, a team of town policemen, led by Lt. Rex Lendong, swooped down on the residence of Johnny Villanueva in Sitio Antipolay, Brgy. Cabagnaan, La Castellana.
The raid led to the arrest of Villanueva, 60, a laborer, and the recovery of a 30 caliber rifle with five ammunition, and a .45 caliber pistol with two magazines containing 14 live ammunition, the La Castellana police said.
Troopers of the 2nd Provincial Mobile Force Company and the local police arrested Ricky Sanao, following the recovery of a .38 caliber revolver with a live ammunition and a fired cartridge from his possession, also on Saturday, in Brgy. Tinongan, Isabela town.
The arrest of Sanao was an offshoot of the implementation of a search warrant, issued by Judge Fernandez, for alleged violation of Republic Act 10591, or the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act.
The arrest of Renante Tobis for a similar violation in Sitio Danao, Brgy. Sebucawan, Isabela, also led to the recovery of another .38 caliber revolver with two live ammunition, and four live ammunition of 9mm pistol and an M16 assault rifle, the police said.
Tobis was arrested by troopers of the 2nd PMFC and the Isabela police.
A homemade 12 gauge shotgun with ammunition was also recovered by the police during the arrest of Lyn John Esmores, a laborer, in Hacienda Concordia, Brgy. Guintubhan, Isabela.
The apprehension of a drug surrenderer, identified as Jojo Salva, in Brgy. Hagumit, La Carlota City, also yielded a homemade gun, eight ammunition of .38 caliber revolver, three ammunition of 9mm pistol, a fired cartridge of .38 caliber revolver, a gram of suspected dried marijuana leaves, two sachets of suspected shabu, and assorted paraphernalia.
ALSO IN HINOBAAN, SAN CARLOS
A drug suspect identified by the police as Joepit Palma was also apprehended in a buy-bust operation in Brgy. 2 poblacion, Hinobaan, Negros Occidental, that yielded four sachets of suspected shabu, worth P6,256, and P1,000 in marked money.
Emma Conje, Jeazemay Geralla and Fritz Gerald Cantero were also nabbed by the police in another buy-bust operation at Burgos Sea Breeze in Brgy. 6, San Carlos City, that yielded four grams of suspected shabu, worth P27,200, marked money of P400, and P300 in cash.
However, a certain Jerold Capangpangan managed to escape during the operation, the San Carlos City police said.
Warlita Japitana, Rebecca and Kenneth Reman were also apprehended by the police for a similar offense in Hinigaran and Pontevedra towns, respectively.
The arrest of Japitana, 51, in Brgy. 1, Hinigaran, yielded six sachets of suspected shabu, worth P1,632, and P500 in marked money.
Recovered during the arrest of Rebecca and Kenneth Riman in Brgy. Miranda, Pontevedra, were four sachets of suspected shabu, worth P4,080, P500 in marked money, and shabu paraphernalia.*
