RAID AT LAGUNA SUBDIVISION NETS DRUGS, CACHE OF WEAPONS

FOUR persons on Friday were arrested while a cache of high-powered firearms and ammunition and suspected illegal drugs were seized in a raid at a house in an upscale subdivision in Sta. Rosa City, Laguna.

The suspects were identified as Leonard Stephen Tiongco, 57; his son Enrique Tiongco, 26; Joshua Eduard Stacey, 27; and Daryl Sarona, 25.

The four were arrested during the 5 a.m. raid at L25, Blk. 1, Avila St., Abrio Homes Nuvali in Sta. Rosa City conducted by members of the CIDG National Capital Region Field Unit, with the support of the Laguna Police Provincial Office, and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency 4-A.

Philippine National Police – Criminal Investigation and Detection Group director Maj. Gen. Romeo M. Caramat Jr. said the raid was triggered by an information from confidential informants that Enrique was involved in a number of illegal activities and has in his possession a number of unlicensed guns.

Undercover officers placed the target area under surveillance and later managed to get a search warrant for violation of Republic Act 10591 or the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulations Act of 2013 from Judge Francisco Victor Collado Jr. of the Dasmariñas City Regional Trial Court Branch 90 on Thursday.

A team of CIDG-NCRFU officers led by Lt. Col. Joey Caise under the supervision of Col. George Buyacao Jr. served the search warrant, which led to the recovery of several rifles and small firearms, hundreds of assorted live ammunition, and a huge volume of suspected marijuana, shabu and cocaine.

Chemists from the PDEA Region 4-A have joined the field inventory of the recovered illegal substance.

Caramat said the four arrested suspects will be detained at the CIDG-NCRFU lock-up facility while criminal charges for violation of RA 10591 and RA 9165 are being readied for filing in court against them.