Man involved in gun-running nabbed

By Glazyl Y. Masculino

BACOLOD City – A man allegedly involved in gun-running activities here and in the northern part of Negros Occidental was arrested in an entrapment operation at Barangay Sum-ag here Monday.

Operatives of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG)-Bacolod arrested Ricardo Isturis III, 37, of the said village.

Police Chief Master Sergeant Ramiro Gocotano, officer-in-charge of CIDG-Bacolod, said they subjected Isturis in a buy-bust operation for violation of Republic Act 10591 or Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act.

Police recovered from Isturis the P100 marked money, P19,700 boodle or fake money, a .45-caliber pistol loaded with a live ammunition, a magazine assembly and six live ammunitions of the same caliber, and a cellular phone.

Gocotano said the suspect failed to show pertinent documents authorizing him to possess or sell the said firearm.

He said the suspect’s two other companions were arrested in April 2018 here. “They get their stock of firearms from Cebu,” he added.

He said they are validating reports that the suspect is also involved in gun-for-hire.

The suspect is now under police custody and was charged for illegal possession of firearm and ammunition yesterday.