1 month ago
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CEBU CITY — Police apprehended four men involved not just in selling firearms but also in robbery, house break-ins and motorcycle theft in Barangay Toong here.
The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group-Regional Special Operation Team (CIDG-RSOT) conducted the operation on Wednesday night after receiving reports of illegal firearm sales.
Arrested were Jamie Babao Paraiso, 20; Edcel Narvasa Caballero, 39; Jake Babao Paraiso, 21; and James Bontilao Sabal, 25.
Authorities seized three.45 caliber pistols with magazines, six ammunition, a packet of suspected shabu, and a motorcycle allegedly used in illegal firearm transactions.
Cpt. Joel Deiparine, head of the CIDG-RSOT, said a source informed them that Jamie Paraiso was selling firearms. Investigators monitored his activities and set up a buy-bust operation.
Police arranged a purchase and arrested Paraiso, his brother Jake, and Caballero during the transaction. Sabal tried to escape on a motorcycle but was caught in a follow-up operation.
Police linked Paraiso to a recent Barangay Tisa robbery, which was caught on video and uploaded online. He admitted to selling firearms for P15,000 each but claimed the other three suspects were not involved.
Caballero, a construction worker, said financial struggles pushed him to commit crimes. He confessed to robbing a woman in Tisa, stealing her cellphone and cash.
Paraiso confirmed he was the man in the video. Deiparine said the recovered motorcycle matched the one used in the robbery, as identified by the victim.
A background check revealed multiple complaints against the group for robbery, house break-ins, and theft of coin-operated Wi-Fi machines.
Police said the suspects would face charges for violating Republic Act 10591 (Illegal Possession of Firearms), the Comelec Gun Ban, and RA 9165 (Possession of Illegal Drugs).
