ILOILO City – A suspected member of the notorious Ilonggo robbery group operating in Manila was caught in Barangay Jamabalod, Pototan, Iloilo on Saturday for illegal possession of firearm.
The 43-year-old Herman Fuentes was arrest at his house around 7 a.m. Policemen raided his house and recovered an unlicensed .38 revolver.
Cops also found Philippine National Police and Armed Forces of the Philippines identification cards falsely identifying Fuentes as a member, according to Senior Inspector Ronnie Brillo, Pototan police chief.
“Based on the information we gathered, he served as an asset of the police in Manila for illegal drug operations but also has a relative who is a member of the Ilonggo robbery group there,” said Brillo.
The suspect also worked as bodyguard of a businessman in Manila, Brillo added.
During the raid, the police also found a license for a .45 pistol but the gun was not recovered.
The Pototan police applied for a search warrant to raid Fuentes’ house after reports reached the police station that bursts of gunfire could at times be heard in the suspect’s house.
Neighbors also complained that Brillo had the habit of showing off his gun if he got inebriated.
From his house, Fuentes was taken to the Pototan police station.
He faces two charges – violation of the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act and usurpation of authority for possessing fake police and military identification cards./PN
