By BOY RYAN ZABAL
KALIBO, Aklan — A suspected gunrunner, who was arrested after a cache of high-powered firearms were seized in his house in Malinao town, denied owning the items.
Carlito Dela Cruz, 63, claimed that the firearms were left to him by unknown individuals.
“Owa man nakun gina ayos. Owa ngani nakun nakilaea ro naghatud karun it mga baril (I did not repair the firearms. I did not even know the ones who left them),” he said.
Admitting that he was also at fault, Dela Cruz said he is ready to face any charge.
“Sabton nakun da. May saea man abi ako, gina-ako ko mat-a ra,” he said.
He was detained in the Kalibo police station. Charges for illegal possession of firearms and ammunition will be filed against him today before the Provincial Prosecutor’s Office.
A native of Barangay Bugasongan, Lezo, Dela Cruz relocated to Barangay San Ramon, Malinao two years ago when his family bought a property there.
Dela Cruz also repairs motorcycles, welds window grills, and vulcanizes tires.
“May pulis ngani iya nga gapa-gapayad. Nag-balibad ko kanda. (A policeman also asked me to repair his gun, but I refused),” Dela Cruz disclosed.
Superintendent Jomil John Trio, deputy provincial police director for operations, said Dela Cruz did not have the permit to repair firearms.
Items seized during the Saturday raid were:
- eight .38-caliber revolvers
- two 22-caliber revolvers
- a 22-caliber Magnum Super Colt
- three airguns converted to caliber 22
- a 12-gauge shotgun with a magazine loaded with four ammunition
- a 357-caliber revolver without cylinder
- a port assembly for a caliber 22 rifle
- a .45-caliber magazine with a bullet
- seven ammunition for a caliber .35
- 11 ammunition for caliber .45, and
- two rifle butts.
Senior Inspector John Paul Tovera, chief of Criminal Investigation and Detection Group–Aklan, said Dela Cruz had been under surveillance for months.
Judge Marietta Homena–Valencia of the Regional Trial Court here issued the search warrant. (Aklan Forum Journal/PN)
