SANTA MARIA, Laguna – Police arrested an alleged member of a private armed group (PAG) for illegal possession of firearms in Barangay Macasipac here on Friday, July 21.
Laguna police director Police Col. Harold Depositar identified the suspect as Roberto Banaag, also a gun-for-hire operating in this province.
Banaag was arrested through a search warrant for violation of of Republic Act (RA) 10591 or the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act issued by Judge Agripino Bravo, Executive Judge, Regional Trial Court (RTC), Lucena City, Quezon, dated July 19, 2023 in line with the “Oplan: Paglalansag Omega” campaign against loose firearms.
Suspect yielded a caliber .45 pistol without serial number, two steel magazines for caliber .45, and 12 caliber .45 bullets.
Banaag’s wife, Evangelin, was also arrested for obstruction of justice when she tried to hide these from the police searching the suspect’s house.
The couple and pieces of evidence were taken to the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group-Laguna Provincial Field Unit Office for documentation and proper disposition.
The implementation of the search warrant was witnessed by barangay councilor Leonardo Matrigo in the presence of Banaag.