Three cops, two civilians nabbed for alleged gunrunning

By Ronron
April 10, 2007

Three policemen and two civilians were arrested on Monday night by police operatives from Region IV-A at a city south of Metro Manila for alleged gunrunning.

In his report to the Philippine National Police (PNP) headquarters in Camp Crame, Quezon City, Sr. Supt. Charles Calima, Jr., operations chief of Police Region IV-A Office, identified the suspects as: 1) PO1 Ricardo Espeleta, 37, of the Pasay City Police Station; 2) PO1 Leonilo Espeleta, 35, of the Traffic Management Group based in Camp Crame; 3) PO1 Michael Bañola, 27, of the Pasay City Police Station; 4) Danilo Caballes, 39; and, 5) Marcelino Lepiten, 39.

Calima said the five were arrested during an entrapment-turned-dragnet operation by the Regional Special Operations Group (RSOG) IV-A and Regional Mobile Group (RMG) IV-A at the tollgate in Susana Heights, Muntinlupa City at around 8:30 pm.

The five were supposed to meet up with policemen poseur gun-buyers at around 3pm Monday at the Tropical Hut restaurant in Bacoor, Cavite to strike a P1.5 million purchase deal for 20 pieces of caliber 45, machine pistol Beretta 9mm, AK 47, and M16 Bushmaster Armalite.

However, while they were on their way to Susana Heights aboard a Honda CRV (plate number MCC-988), they suspected that the meeting could be a police entrapment operation as they noticed the RSOG and RSM operatives’ tailing them.

Thus, they sped up, resulting in a car chase that ended at the tollgate.

Blocking forces immediately disarmed the five suspects and seized one submachine gun UZI pistol with five long magazines; one caliber 40 pistol Glock, with three magazines; three 9mm pistols with one magazine each; one Colt caliber 45 with magazine; 39 live ammunitions of caliber 40; and 20 live ammunitions of caliber 9mm.

Police said no shootout happened during the arrest.

The five were brought to the RSOG IV-A headquarters at Camp Vicente Lim in Calamba City, Laguna for investigation.

Calima said charges for violation of Presidential Decree 1866, as amended by Republic Act 8294, (Illegal Possession of Firearms), and violation of Omnibus Election Code on Gun Ban are being prepared against the five.

National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) chief Deputy Director General Reynaldo Varilla said he also ordered the filing of administrative charges against the two Pasay City policemen – Ricardo Espeleta and Bañola.

“We are not tolerating this kind of activity. So I immediately ordered the filing of administrative case against the two Pasay City policemen. If we have to dismiss them, we will do that. We have already done that before,” Varilla said.

Calima said further investigation is being conducted to find out where the five are sourcing the firearms./DMS