BY JEN BAYLON & RUBY SILUBRICO
ILOILO – In an entrapment operation by the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG)-Iloilo, three gun running suspects, including a former member of the Philippine Army, were apprehended in Barangay Dacutan, Dumangas on Thursday, Oct. 26.
Corporal Bryl Dela Cruz, 32, of Barangay Malonoy, Dumarao, Capiz entered the Army sometime in 2012 but was dismissed from service last year after he went absent without official leave. He was the operation’s main subject.
With him were Arvie Macasusa, 28, of Barangay Canabay, Basay, Samar and truck driver Jason Bernales, 37, of Barangay Bancal, Alimodian, Iloilo.
The three are detained in Dumangas Police Station.
According to Lieutenant Colonel Julius Jacinto, CIDG-Iloilo head, the operation resulted in the recovery of the following: an M16 rifle, a magazine, a .45 pistol, two magazines, four mobile phones, a truck loaded with meat products, and P82,000 in buy-bust money.
“We were able to transact with them through our asset who contacted the former army,” Jacinto told Panay News.
Jacinto added that the loose firearms were allegedly sourced from Cebu Province, and the meat products served as cover-ups for the illicit trade.
Meanwhile, the ex-soldier claimed to be resorting to such activity to generate income./PN
