By Jennifer P. Rendon
A man who was just supposed to be cautioned for not wearing a face mask was arrested for illegally possessing a firearm in Badiangan, Iloilo.
The suspect was identified as Jonryl Catalan, 33, a resident of Barangay Batuan, San Dionisio, Iloilo.
Lieutenant Ma. Doreen Losaria, Badiangan police chief, said they were conducting police visibility when they saw Catalan and two others on the roadside at Barangay Catubig around 1:35 p.m. of May 13, 2021.
All of them were not wearing face mask.
Police officers who approached Catalan claimed seeing a gun tucked in the latter’s waist.
When frisked, police recovered a caliber .9mm pistol (serial number BEO1618-10-246) loaded with ammunition on its chamber and magazine loaded with 6 ammunition.
Also recovered from Catalan’s pocket was an extra magazine loaded with 6 ammunition, a small box containing 32 pieces of caliber .9mm ammunition and 10 ammunition for caliber .45 pistol.
His two companions, Rynor Arsenal alias “Enol” and certain Bernard, who are both residents of Barangay Bitaoyan, Badiangan, fled before police could accost them.
When asked what he was doing in the area, Catalan said he just visited his friend. He also denied owning the gun taken from his possession.
Catalan claimed that Arsenal asked him to carry the gun.
The suspect is now detained at the lock-up cell of Badiangan Police Station and would be charged for violation of Republic Act 10591 (Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act).
