‘TRAINING GROUND’ RAID NETS FAKE ARMY OFFICER, HIGH-POWERED GUNS

JOINT operatives led by the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) on Saturday arrested a bogus military officer and two others and seized a cache of high-powered guns and ammunition in a raid in an alleged Army training ground in Biñan City, Laguna.

The raid was part of the CIDG’s Oplan Paglalansag Omega drive against private armed groups and loose firearms.

Arrested were Jose Francisco Ramos III, Mark Sales, and Darwin Regonis.

Seized during the operation were 38 assorted firearms, including AK47, UZI, carbine garand, cal. 556 rifles, cal. 22, cal. 45, cal. 9mm. cal. 38, and shotguns.

Also confiscated were magazines for the assorted guns and a thousand round of ammunition.

Operatives of the CIDG Laguna Provincial Field Unit, together with personnel from the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the local police, conducted the operation based on five search warrants for violation of Republic Act 10591 or the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act issued by Executive Judge Agripino R. Bravo of the Regional Trial Court of Lucena City, Quezon.

Authorities swooped down on Amsterdam St., Town and Country in Bgy. Langkiwa, Biñan City and arrested the suspects and seized the loose firearms,

During the arrest, Ramos introduced himself as a high official of the AFP.

An investigation showed the suspect, who identified himself as an Army Lieutenant Colonel and General, used social media (Facebook) to recruit members who want to join the Philippine Wildlife Sentinel Unified Command (PWSUC).

Ramos claimed that the organization is affiliated with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and also serves as force multiplier for the military.

The group was found to be using vacant lots at the raided village as training ground.

A verification from the 1303rd Defense Regional Community of the Philippine Army showed that Ramos is not an AFP reservist and has no records of assignment nor is included in the roster of troops of the AFP’s Joint Task Force – NCR.

The DENR-4A also said the PWSUC is not in any way connected with them as Deputized Wildlife Enforcement Officers (WEO’s).

The arrested suspects and the confiscated pieces of evidence were brought to the CIDG Laguna PFU Office for documentation and proper disposition.