Cops nab 5, seize many guns, ammo in Abra

BAGUIO CITY-- Authorities arrested on Wednesday five persons and seized four firearms and dozens of live ammunition in three separate operations in Abra province, police reports showed.

 Reports released to the media on Thursday identified the suspects as Ruben Ariota, Romar Reyes, Juliemar Ariota, Alvin Barbosa Timbreza, and Artemio Blanza Ballera.

 The suspects were apprehended during separate police operations in the towns of Dolores, San Juan and Sallapadan.

 Police also seized during the operations two cal.45 pistols, a homemade 12 gauge shotgun, a homemade cal.22 pistol, 44 live ammunition for the firearms, a holster, and magazine.

 Based on the report, on August 21 at around 6:25 a.m., police operatives in the region, armed with search warrants, raided the houses of the Ariotas and Reyes in Barangay Talogtog, Dolores Abra where they confiscated the firearms and live ammos.

 Police also raided Timbreza's house in Supiil, San Juan town around 6:50 a.m. on the same day.

 Authorities also raided the house of Ballera in Salideng, Saccaang in Sallapadan town.

The suspects are now facing illegal possession of firearms and ammunition, the police said.

 Police Maj. Carolina Lacuata, Police Regional Office Cordillera (PROCOR) information officer, said the operations are part of the government’s effort to rid the communities of loose firearms.

 She said the confiscated items would undergo ballistics examination to find out about their possible involvement in previous crimes. – PNA