Ex-Army man falls in gun raid

By Jennifer P. Rendon

A cache of firearms and ammunition and explosives were seized in a gun raid against a former Philippine Army member in New Lucena, Iloilo morning of January 30.

Police identified the suspect as Francis Sumido, 52, a resident of Barangay Wari-wari, New Lucena.

Members of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) – Iloilo Field Unit, 63rd Special Action Company, Regional Mobile Force Battalion (RFMB)-6, and New Lucena Municipal Police Station swooped on Sumido’s house by virtue of a search warrant.

Recovered from Sumido’s abode were a caliber .45 pistol with two magazines and 31 ammunition; a KG-9 submachine gun with a magazine and 54 ammunition for a caliber .9mm pistol; a 12-gauge shotgun with 12 ammunition; a caliber .22 rifle with 42 ammunition; a caliber .22 magnum revolver with 15 ammunition; a hand grenade; and an improvised explosive devise/pipe-type comb.

Lieutenant Jerson Baldevia, New Lucena police chief, said that the suspect was reportedly discharged from the service in 2009.

Now a farmer, Sumido has been at odds with his siblings.

Their disagreements have in fact turned into court battles.

This was allegedly one of the reasons why the suspect justified his gun possession

Surmido is now in the custody of CIDG-Iloilo and would be charged for violation of Republic Act 10591 (Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act) and RA 9516 (Unlawful Manufacture, Sales, Acquisition, Disposition, Importation or Possession of an Explosive or Incendiary Device).