Joint gov’t troops arrested 15 members of Guns-for Hire Group, seized assorted firearms and ammunitions

Guns-for Hire Group arrested by the joint government troops

By JONG D. CADION

PAGADIAN CITY, Zamboanga del Sur (May 6, 2018) – Former municipal Mayor, ABC President, Leader of Guns-for Hire Group and members were arrested by the joint government troops during Law Enforcement Operation in the municipality of Sominot of this province of Zamboanga Del Sur Saturday early morning, ZSPPO Provincial Director Senior Supt. John Gano Guyguyon disclosed.

The joint operating troops is led by the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) together with 5^th Special Action Battalion PNP-SAF, Regional Mobile Force Battalion 9, Regional Intelligence Unit 9, Zamboanga Del Sur Provincial Police Office (ZSPPO), Police Provincial Mobile Force Company, Regional Special Operation Group, Sominot Municipal Police Station and the Army’s 53^rd Infantry Battalion.

The operating troops successfully arrested 15 persons and confiscated assorted high-powered firearms and ammunitions during the conduct of law enforcement operation through the implementation of Search Warrants Saturday 4:00am at Barangay Poblacion, Barangay Tungawan and Barangay Carmen in the municipality of Sominot of this province.

During the implementation of Search Warrant No. 5601 (18) against Stephen Acosta Y Cases, a 10-minutes firefight ensued while the raiding team approaching the house of Acosta, they were fired by the armed men prompting the government troops to retaliate and pursued them inside and further subdue 6 suspects together with their firearms, ZSPPO PD Senior Supt. Guyguyon disclosed.

Provincial Director Senior Supt. John Gano Guyguyon identified the arrested persons as:

1. Stephen Acosta Y Cases, former Mayor of Sominot, Zamboanga Del Sur
2. Arnel Pepito Y Quimno, Leader of Arnel Quimno Pepito Gun-for Hire Group involved in the series of shooting incidents in the area of Sominot, with standing warrant of arrest for attempted murder, RTC-10, Oroquieta City
3. Garry Quimno Pepito
4. Edgar Quimno Pepito
5. Nemecia Quimno Pepito, ABC President of Sominot
6. Rey Sumalinog Pepito
7. Ruther Dela Torre Biawan
8. Allan Eturma Dicierdo
9. Anicito Culanag Andulong
10. Rolando Anding Ramayrat
11. Romeo Batac Capangpangan
12. Jesryl Cabijenas Romo
13. Lorenzo Onez Malayao
14. Roberto Tigtig Hasma
15. Romando Dahuya Andrade

Confiscated Items from the Search Warrant No. 5601 (18) against Stephen Acosta Y Cases of Purok Sudlon, Barangay Poblacion, Sominot are

1.   One unit Pistol Colt MKN Cal.45 with SN: 132478;

2.   One unit Pistol Colt Cal.45 with SN: 100653;

3.   One unit Pistol Armscor Cal.45 with SN: 981930;

4.   Three pc Magazine for Cal.45;

5.   Twenty-one pcs live ammunitions for cal.45;

6.   Three pcs Holster for Cal.45 color black;

7.   One unit cal.38 revolver;

8.   One unit cal.22 magnum;

9.   One pc live ammunition for cal.38; and

10.        Nine pcs live ammunition for cal.22 magnum.

Confiscated items from the Search Warrant No. 5586 (18) against Lorenzo M. Oñez, of Purok Josefina, Barangay Poblacion are:

1.   One unit Pistol 1911 A1 ACP Cal.45 with SN: 706440;

2.   One unit Magazine (Standard) for Cal .45;

3.   Two units Magazine (Long 10 rds) for Cal .45;

4.   One unit Holster for Cal.45 color black; and

5.   Twenty-three pcs live ammunitions Cal .45 pistol.

Confiscated items from the Search Warrant Nos. 5588-5589 (18) against Arnel Pepito Y Quimno and 3 others of Purok Josefina, Barangay Poblacion, Sominot are:

1.   One unit Pistol unbranded Cal.45;

2.   Three pcs magazine (8 rds) for Cal.45 Color black;

3.   One pc Magazine (10 rds) for Cal.45;

4.   Twenty-five pcs live ammunitions for Cal.45;

5.   One unit Pistol Colt MK IV Cal.45 with SN: 101556;

6.   One pc Magazine (standard) for cal.45;

7.   Three pcs live ammunitions for cal.45;

8.   Four pcs magazine for M16 Rifle Cal 5.56;

9.   One pc magazine Long for Cal 5.56;

10.        Fifty pcs live ammunitions for m16 rifle cal 5.56;

11.        One pc holster color black for cal.45;

12.        One pc Belt bag color black/gra pc Sling bag color black;

13.        One unit m16 rifle Elisco AR15 with tampered SN: 112233; and

14.        Two pcs magazine (short) for Cal 5.56.            

The confiscated items from the Search Warrant Nos. 5595(18); 5594(18); 5593(18); 5592(18); and 5591(18) from Gary Pepito’s Possession

1.   1 unit Norinco .45 pistol with SN: 1107596d,

2.   3 magazines for .45 pistol,

3.   25 live ammos for .45 cal.;

4.   1-unit colt M-16a1 with SN: 4540775,

5.   1 magazine for M-16a1, and

6.   30 live ammos for M-16a1.

From Edgar Pepito possession are:

1. 1 unit homemade 12-gauge shotgun and
2. 1 unit caliber .38 revolvers.

From Allan Decierdo:

1. 1 Cal 45 pistol with Serial Nr. 581472 Para Ordinance,
2. 14 live ammos and
3. 1 magazine assembly of cal. 45.
4. 
   

In a press conference Saturday evening at Camp Abelon PD Guyguyon said that some of the arrested suspects belong to the created gang group operating in Missamis Occidental and in Zamboanga del Sur that were responsible of shooting incident in this province particularly in Pagadain City.

“This is the result of the Task Force created recently that will conduct counter strike targeting only Gun-for-Hire group following the declaration that Pagadian City is a ‘shooting capital’ in Region 9,” PD Guyguyon added.

It was recalled recently PRO 9 Regional Director PCSUPT. Billy B Beltran declared Pagadian City as the shooting capital in Region 9 due to high record of shooting incidents.

Pagadian City recorded 17 shooting incidents from January to April of this year. Record shows in 2012 recorded 81 shooting incidents, 2013-94 shooting incidents, 2014-75 shooting incidents, 2015-71 shooting incidents, 2016-58 shooting incidents and 2017-33 shooting incidents.

The arrested persons were brought to CIDG provincial office for proper disposition and complaint for violation of RA 10591 is being prepared for filing at the Prosecutors Office. The CIDG investigators are handling investigation and Filing of Cases.