ILOILO CITY, Apr. 06 (PNA)- A former village chief and his son have been arrested for hiding a cache of high-powered firearms and ammunitions at their house in Brgy. Astorga, Dumarao, Capiz.

The arrested suspects were former punong barangay Danilo Larario, 55, and his son Ryson Larario, 29, both residents of Brgy. Tina, Dumarao town.

On Saturday, the combined forces of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group –Capiz (CIDG-Capiz) led by SPO4 Pedro Celino along with operatives of the Capiz Provincial Mobile Group and Dumarao PNP, pounced on the house of the Lararios which led to the recovery of assorted high-powered firearms, live ammunitions as well as firearms accessories. The confiscation include one 12-gauge shotgun; .40 caliber pistol; Smith and Weeson .45 caliber pistol; airsoft rifle; 150 rounds of caliber .40 ammunitions; 24 live ammos of caliber .45 pistol; 15 live ammos of 12-gauge shotgun; four magazines of caliber .40 pistol; three magainzes of caliber .45 pistol; and, four holster of .40 and .45 caliber pistols.

Celino said the former barangay chair has presented documents to prove that the cache of firearms were covered by pertinent firearms license.

The police operation has been carried out by virtue of a search warrant issued by the local court in Capiz.

But proper verification made by the CIDG-Capiz with Firearms and Explosive Division of the Philippine National Police national headquarters in Camp Crame came out negative.

The police operation was conducted based on complaints from neighbors and residents with regard to the indiscriminate discharge of firearms made by the Lararios that disturb the peace-loving residents.

Since January this year, the CIDG-Capiz has been closely monitoring the Lararios as an aftermath of the complaint lodged by their neighbors before the regional office of the CIDG in Western Visayas based at Camp Degaldo, Iloilo City headed by S/Supt. Peter Naboye.

Meanwhile, the former village chieftain and his son were ordered detained pending the filing of appropriate criminal charges against them.(PNA)
CTB/AJP/VLOrquiola