Tuesday, August 22, 2017

Oplan Halang-halang

From the Mindanao Times (Aug 23): Oplan Halang-halang

DCPO sees NPA involvement in seized guns

THE DAVAO City Police Office (DCPO) yesterday said the firearms seized at a checkpoint are intended for the liquidation squad of the New People’s Army (NPA) as part of its Oplan Halang Halang.

This as an investigator identified the one who was carrying the pack bag that contained the guns.

DCPO director Alexander Tagum admitted there is a “real” threat from the NPA.

“(We) should (be) alerted to the grim reality of Oplan Halang Halang of the NPAs,” Tagum said, adding that he has already disseminated his observation to all the men and women of DCPO.

Tagum said that based on their close scrutiny and examination on the recovered firearms they have arrived to the conclusion that the NPA is involved in the case.

He said the seized firearms were buried arms cache as indicated by the rust in the guns and the obvious soil patina left in the surface of the gun metal.

Tagum said that despite the absence of ammunition, the bomb-sniffing dogs detected it. This, he said, indicates gun powder residue, proving that the guns were recently fired.

Thirdly, Tagum said the courier loaded the bag in Surigao City where the NPAs are actively operating.

The DCPO chief said the number of guns – seven .45 pistols and one Ingram Machine Pistol – is enough to arm an NPA hit squad.

Identify

The DCPO also released yesterday the name of the suspect who was carrying the seized bag that contained the guns.

DCPO spokesperson Sr. Insp. Maria Theresita Gaspan identified the suspect as a certain Arnold Juayon.

“He is at large but his name was identified through the logbook that he signed at the checkpoint area,” Gaspan said.

She said the conductor, name withheld, pointed Juayon as the one who carried the bag as they reviewed the closed circuit television footages at the checkpoint area.

Gaspan said Juayon was the one who disappeared after signing the log book.

During the conduct of inspection, the suspect was no longer found when the authorities called the names of those persons who signed the logbook.

Members of the Task Force Davao seized the firearms in a checkpoint in Sitio Licanan, Barangay Alejandra Navarro (Lasang) in Bunawan around 9 a.m. on Monday.

A city-bound Bachelor bus coming from Tacloban, Leyte, with plate number WOY 113, passed by at the checkpoint and the mandatory inspection was conducted.

During the inspection, a bomb-sniffing dog sat in one of the baggage placed at the bus compartment, pointing that there could be illegal substances inside the black-colored pack bag.

Guns were found inside the bag.

Contrary to the earlier report, there were 30 persons on board the bus – 28 passengers, the driver and the conductor.
 

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