By LITO RULONA
Correspondent
POLICE on Wednesday seized high-powered firearms and ammunition as they tried to serve a court order to a broker at Westfield Subdivision, Barangay Iponan.
Police Public Safety Company chief Supt. Roy Magsalay identified the suspect as Paquito Lara Jr., 41, of Block 10, Lot 28, Westfield Subdivision.
Lara, said to be a former seaman and a member of a gun club, was arrested.
Magsalay said police found the guns as they were helping in serving a Jan. 18 Temporary Protection Order (TPO) issued by regional Judge Ricardo Mordeno to Lara.
The TPO was issued in favor of Lara’s wife who sought protection from her husband.
The judge advised the petitioner to seek police assistance along with court sheriff Joel Paquino.
Magsalay said police asked to see documents when they saw a firearm on top of a table inside Lara’s house. He said no document was shown.
He said officers searched the house when Lara’s wife informed them there were more guns in the house.
Magsalay said police seized a Thompson sub-machine gun, an AK-47, two caliber .45 and two 9mm pistols, a Berreta, a Noringco, and a Glock 40.
He said police also found 149 rounds of AK-47 ammunition, 47 rounds of caliber .45 ammunition, 43 rounds for a caliber 40, 144 rounds for a 9mm, five AK-47 magazines, 9 mm magazines, three caliber 40 magazines, seven caliber .45 magazines, sub-machine gun magazine, two army knives, three silencers, and two utility vest.
“This will fall for incidental discovery of firearms because we saw it in plain view. Gipamutang lang ang armas sa ilang balay, wala gani tago–i. Pasalamat lang kita kay si Lara didto sa gawas sa balay og caught by surprise siya sa among pag-abot,” Magsalay said.
Lara maintained that all the firearms were licensed but he failed to show any proof, according to the police.
Police said the suspect was facing charges for violation of the law on illegal possession of firearms and ammunition.
Lara declined to give comment at the police headquarters.
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