Retired cop nabbed for cache of loose firearms

By Glazyl Y. Masculino

BACOLOD City – A retired police official was arrested last Tuesday in an entrapment operation at Barangay IV, Hinigaran, Negros Occidental for allegedly possessing four loose high-powered firearms and three other guns and ammunition.

Arrested was retired police colonel Demosthenes Fernandez, 58, of Barangay Villamonte here.

Police Major Jake Barila, town police chief, said they conducted the operation against Fernandez a few days after the latter called him last week to discuss some reports on illegal drugs and abduction.

“Ok man lang amon storya, asta nga nag offer na siya sa akon nga gabaligya siya armas, nga ang dating daw gapamilit,” he added.

Barila said that he didn’t personally know Fernandez and was surprised when the latter called him again while he was in a meeting.

Barila mentioned Fernandez to his colleagues, and the latter encouraged him to launch a buy-bust operation.

Barila said that he contacted Fernandez and agreed to meet him.

Barila said that he acted as a poseur-buyer when he met Fernandez, who allegedly sold him a .9mm caliber ingram with two magazines and 28 live ammunition for P60,000.

“May upod pa ko gani na pulis man, and both naka uniform kami, kampante lang gid siya siguro kay nag deal gid siya sa akon,” Barila said.

Also recovered from Fernandez were a .9mm-caliber submachine pistol, a revolver, an M14 rifle, an M16 rifle, a .40-caliber pistol, .9mm-caliber pistol, another revolver, 120 pieces of 5.56-caliber ammunitions, 16 pieces of 7.62-caliber ammos, 41 pieces of .45-caliber ammos, 52 pieces of .40-caliber ammos, 16 pieces of .9mm-caliber ammos, six magazines for M16 riffle, six magazines for .40 caliber, four magazines of .45 caliber, two magazines of .9mm machine pistol, and a magazine of M14 riffle.

Barila said Fernandez retired from the police service in 2018, and was previously assigned as an anti-drug operative, based on the suspect’s statement.

Fernandez alleged that he continues to help the government in the anti-criminality and anti-drug war, but he failed to present any document authorizing him to possess the firearms.

Barila said they already coordinated with the Firearms and Explosives Office (FEO) to verify the recovered firearms.

One of the recovered firearms has an expired license, he added.

Barila said that Fernandez is willing to face the charges against him, adding that the latter told the police that he just needed money, thus he resorted to selling the firearms.

However, police have yet to determine how Fernandez got hold of the firearms.

Fernandez will be facing charges for illegal possession of firearms and ammunition.