‘Asset' nabbed for illegal
gun, grenade possession

The 6th Philippine National Police Regional Mobile Group yesterday denied any link to the man who claimed to be its civilian asset and who was arrested in Bacolod City for carrying a hand grenade and a .45 caliber pistol without proper documents, the police said.

Supt. Remus Canieso, chief of the 6th PNP-RMG in Victorias City , Negros Occidental, told the DAILY STAR they do not have any connection with Marcelino Castillo, 54, who was nabbed by PO3 Rodrigo Juayang.

“I don't know him personally and our intelligence division doesn't know him either…he is just name-dropping,” Canieso said in a telephone interview.

Castillo, who is from Brgy. Bacayan, Victorias City , was apprehended when a hand grenade fell from his pocket at the compound of the Land Transportation Office near Lacson Street , at noon yesterday, police records show.

The incident reportedly created a commotion in the area prompting a security guard to ask for assistance from Juayang who is detailed there.

Later, upon inspection, a .45 caliber pistol with a magazine containing eight bullets was also confiscated from Castillo, police reports said.

Castillo refused to comment on the incident, while his female companion said they do not want to say anything yet because they are still having a “headache.”

PO3 Julius Lagon of Police Station 3 said Castillo, who did not have any document to back his claim of being an RMG asset or authorizing him to carry the weapons, could face charges for violation of Republic Act 8294, which penalizes illegal possession of firearms, ammunition, and explosives.

Meanwhile, Canieso said they, indeed, have civilian informants but they neither give authority nor allow them to possess and carry guns.*PP

back to top

Investigation of store
burglary on: cops

The store burglary in Bacolod City Monday that involved more than P250,000 in cash and merchandise is still being investigated, the police said yesterday.

The break-in at SunVes Marketing at the corner of Luzuriaga-Gatuslao streets, in Bacolod , that was discovered by a sales supervisor at about 8 a.m. Monday is still being probed, Police Station 1 investigator, PO3 Celito Dullan, said.

Alicia Ignacio told the police they lost more than P170,000 in cash from two cash registers and an estimated P80,000 worth of clothes.

The suspects entered the property by cutting a hole in its roof and destroying its plywood ceiling, Dullan said.

He said they are discounting an inside job as the theft could have been done by a burglary group in Bacolod believed involved in a previous break-in.*PP

back to top

‘Beware of robbery scheme'S

The Bacolod police yesterday warned the public against robbers who claim to be relatives of a house owner in order to enter a residence and steal valuables.

Bacolod City Police Office director, Senior Supt. Ronilo Quebrar, called on people, especially house helpers, to beware of persons who identify themselves as family members of their employers.

These people, Quebrar said, have already robbed two residences at the area of Police stations 3 and 4, taking more than P100,000 in cash and valuables after convincing the helpers they are relatives of the houses' owners.

Another modus of the suspects is to bring helpers to a restaurant and leave them there while stealing items from their employers' residences, Police Station 4 commander, Chief Inspector Santiago Rapiz, said.

He also said they now have several “leads” on the incidents.*PP

back to top