ISULAN, Sultan Kudarat — The campaign against loose firearms and private armed groups has been intensified in Sultan Kudarat province, a ranking police official said Monday.
Sr. Supt. Raul Supiter, Sultan Kudarat police director, said the latest successful operation led to the arrest of 10 men over the weekend and recovery of 25 assorted high-powered firearms, explosives and over 1,400 ammunition from an armed group led by the father of a town mayor in the province.
The group was led by retired Army MSgt. Rodolfo Ecija, father of Senator Ninoy Aquino town Mayor Randy Ecija, Supiter told PNA at the police provincial office here.
“They were private armed followers of retired M/Sgt. Ecija, seven of them were also retired soldiers,” Supiter said.
The 65-year-old Ecija and his men did not resist arrest when Supiter and other police officers presented the search warrant issued by Judge Alandrex M. Betoya of Regional Trial Court Branch 16, Kabacan, North Cotabato for violations of RA 10591 (Unlawful possession of light weapons).
Aside from Ecija, also arrested were ret. Sgt. Rufino Lama, 53; Augusto G. Terosa, 54; Calvin A. Lakandula Jr., Joel P. Gardose, Glenn Z. Brillantes and Richard P. Devaras; Joven Andrada, 49; Romeo Momo, 33 and Reynaldo Dalayon, 55 all residents of Purok Liwayway, Barangay Poblacion, Sen. Ninoy Aquino town.
Supiter said Mayor Ecija was not included in the search warrant although he was present during the raid.
The mayor refused to issue a statement to the media.
Supiter said the group members arrested in three houses, which served as outpost for armed men in Barangay Poblacion. Seized firearms included 10 M-16 assault rifles, one M-16 Baby Armalite with M-203, one M1 Garand rifle, one cal. 45 pistol, two 9mm pistol, two cal. 30 Carbine, one M-79 launcher, one 12 gauge shotgun, one homemade Engram rifle, one hand grenade, four rifle grenades, 40 pcs 40 mm rifle grenade, hand held radios, more than 1,400 ammunition for various calibers and magazines.
The suspects are now detained at Sultan Kudarat police provincial lock up cell in Barangay Kalawag, Isulan, Sultan Kudarat.
Accompanying Supiter in serving the warrants were Supt. Nestor Salcedo, chief of PRO-12 Regional Intelligence Division; Supt. Salman Sapal, chief of SK Provincial Public Safety Company; Senior Inspector Jayson Manuel, chief of 1st Maneuver Company of Regional Public Safety Battalion; and Senior Inspector Kristian Ace Sularte, Sen. Ninoy Aquino town police chief. (PNA)
