Bukidnon cops seize guns, high-powered rifles

SEVERAL high-powered rifles and guns in Bukidnon were confiscated by elements of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) during a raid yesterday.

Police Col. Jun Mark Lagare, Bukidnon Police Provincial Director, identified the suspects as Abe Gillaco, 40, married; and his brother Hernalito, 52, married, and both residing at Purok 3, Barangay Pinatilan, Valencia City of the said province.

Lagare said the CIDG, together with Valencia police, swooped down the suspects’ place at about 5:30 am. The group was armed with a search warrant issued by Judge Mirabeaus Undalok of the Regional Trial Court-Branch 43, 10th Judicial Region, Gingoog City, dated May 4, 2022.

Authorities were able to confiscate from the occupied room of Hernalito the following: an Armscor caliber .45 pistol; 40 live cartridges for a cal. 45 pistol, two high-capacity steel magazines for a cal. 45 pistol, a box of cartridge cal. of .45 pistol Armscor, an identification card with the name Hernalito P. Gillaco, a black sling bag, and a holster for cal. 45 pistol color black.

Meanwhile, the same raiding team had recovered several high-powered firearms owned by Abe (a US rifle Cal. 30 M1 Springfield Armory, 53 pieces of live bullets for a caliber 30 M1 rifle, seven pieces of steel clip for caliber 30 M1 rifle, 30 pieces of live bullets for a caliber 5.56mm rifle, a cartridge box for a caliber 5.56mm rifle, an M203 grenade, two pieces of fired cartridge shell for a caliber 30 M1 rifle, a gray sling bag, and a 12-gauge shotgun.

Also taken was a long magazine for a 12-gauge shotgun loaded with nine cartridges, a short magazine for a 12-gauge shotgun loaded with five live cartridges, 25 cartridges for a 12-gauge shotgun, and a CZ caliber 9mm pistol; three magazines for CZ caliber 9mm pistol loaded with 18 cartridges each; 44 pcs. cartridge for a caliber 9mm pistol, a SAM caliber .45 pistol, two magazines for a SAM caliber .45 pistol loaded with eight cartridges each, a Gloc caliber .45 pistol, two magazines for a Gloc caliber .45 pistol loaded with 12 cartridges each, and 40 cartridges for a caliber .45 pistol.

Upon further verification, police said some of the confiscated firearms owned by Abe are licensed and registered under his name.

The two suspects and confiscated pieces of evidence were brought to CIDG Bukidnon PFU Office for proper documentation and disposition.

A case for violating the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act and Illegal possession of firearms is being prepared for inquest filing before the Office of the City Prosecutor in the said city.