BUTUAN CITY – Firearms, bullets, and explosives were seized from four suspected gunmen during a raid in Esperanza, Agusan del Sur on Thursday, April 4.
WAR materials were seized from four suspects during a police operation in Esperanza town, Agusan del Sur province on Thursday, April 4. (Mike U. Crismundo)
Police Regional Office-13 Director Police Brig. Gen. Kirby John B. Kraft, identified the suspects as Jul, 57; Jim, 53; Dan, 61, and Lit, 53, all residents of Esperanza.
The suspects were caught by the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group-Agusan del Sur Provincial Field Unit, Regional Special Operations Team, Regional Intelligence Unit-13, Intelligence Group, Esperanza Municipal Police Station, Regional Mobile Force Battalion-13, Special Action Force, and National Intelligence Coordinating Agency-13 on search warrants issued by local courts.
Kraft said that the suspects allegedly perpetrated a series of nefarious activities in Esperanza such as trespassing, extortions, threats, and organizing training for possible militants.
“The reports made by the concerned citizens and the intelligence-driven operations of our police led to this successful operation against this group,” he said.
“We are also conducting thorough investigation against the arrested suspects that is allegedly offering its land as training grounds for bomb-making and other involvement of the suspects that would verify them as a criminal gang and potential private armed group.”
The arrest of the suspects was the result of the continuous implementation of police operations against illegal possession of firearms and explosives, PRO 13-Regional Public Information Office (PRO 13-RPIO) chief Police Major Jennifer S. Ometer said.
Ometer said suspects are facing charges for violation of Republic Act No. 10591 or the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunitions Regulation Act.
Seized war materials are now in the custody of the police for proper disposition and further accounting.