ALLEGED ASG. Suspected Abu Sayyaf member Oger Roma Pelonio covers his face during an interview at the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group office in Cebu City on Thursday (August 16, 2018). (Photo by Luel Galarpe)
A suspected member of the Abu Sayyaf Group was collared early Thursday morning in a joint search warrant operation by the police and military in Carcar City, some 40.3 kilometers south of Cebu City.
Oger Roma Pelonio, who is in his 70s, yielded several unlicensed firearms and ammunition during the search of his rented residence in Barangay Ocaña, Carcar City around 3 a.m.
Confiscated from Pelonio, also known as “Aktoy,” were two loaded .45-caliber pistols, an Ingram sub-machine gun with bullets, two rifle grenades, a loaded .38-caliber handgun, fragmentation grenade, and a suspected C4 explosive.
The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group in Central Visayas (CIDG-7), which led the operation, said several subversive documents, cellphones, and religious materials were also recovered from the suspect’s house, which he and his wife have been renting for five years.
In a one-on-one interview with the Philippine News Agency (PNA), Pelonio denied ownership of the firearms and ammunition seized from his possession.
“Di man na ako. Basig sa tag-iya na sa balay (They’re not mine. Maybe the landlord owns them),” said.
Pelonio was placed under surveillance for the past five days and is currently undergoing debriefing by intelligence officers of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and Philippine National Police.
He said he also did not know why he is suspected of being an Abu Sayyaf member as he is just a sales agent for scrap metals and iron. He is also a Christian and not Muslim, he added.
Pelonio claimed he is from North Cotabato, but added he has not set foot in Mindanao for almost 40 years.
The PNA tried to get more details from newly-installed CIDG-7 chief Superintendent Lito Patay, but he was in a conference. Other CIDG-7 officials also refused to give additional details.
In the course of the interview, Pelonio mentioned his links with the former mayor of Lamitan, Basilan who is now the vice mayor.
Pelonio said he had business dealings with now Lamitan Vice Mayor Roderic Furigay, whom he calls “Orik.” He said Furigay used to buy construction materials through him.
He, however, denied setting foot in Basilan and met with the Lamitan official in person, saying they only made their negotiations through cellphone calls and text messages.
The early morning joint operation on Pelonio was carried out by the CIDG-7, Regional Intelligence Division (RID-7), Provincial Intelligence Branch, Provincial Mobile Force Company, Intelligence Service-AFP, Intelligence Service Group, National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (Nica-7), and the Carcar City Police.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1045100
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