By Jennifer P. Rendon
None of the three firearms recovered from a businessman, identified as the first election gun ban violator in Western Visayas, was registered under his name.
But one of the firearms – a caliber .380 Walther Smith & Wesson pistol with serial number 6857BAB – was registered under Meriam Regalado Odicta, the wife of slain alleged Western Visayas drug lord Melvin Odicta.
The license for the pistol expired on Dec. 17, 2019.
Meriam and Melvin Odicta were killed on Aug. 29, 2016, at the Caticlan Jetty Port in Malay, Aklan.
Another firearm, a caliber 9mm Smith & Wesson Springfield pistol with serial number VCU5300 marked as RAS1, was registered to Zosimo Pascua Jr. of Cembo, Fort Bonifacio, Makati City. Its license expired on Oct. 16, 2011.
The third weapon, an Eagle Arms Armalite M15A2 rifle with serial number 32016, was found to be unregistered.
On Jan. 12, police arrested the suspect, identified as Ryan, after a vehicular accident in Barangay Seminario, Jaro, Iloilo City.
The suspect was in possession of the three firearms and numerous rounds of ammunition, which were seen in plain view at the crash site.
Ryan was driving a Toyota Hilux pickup that crashed into a row of bibingka kiosks at around 1:10 a.m.
The vehicle was registered to Dumangas Sangguniang Bayan member Zake Derequito, who claimed he sold it in December 2024. Derequito provided a copy of the deed of sale.
The Iloilo City Police Station 9 (ICPS9) filed charges against Ryan for violations of Republic Act 10591 (Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act), Republic Act 7166 (Election Gun Ban Law), and reckless imprudence resulting in damage to property and physical injuries.
Police records revealed that this was not Ryan’s first arrest for illegal possession of firearms. On Aug. 22, 2018, authorities raided his house in Barangay Baan, Butuan City. During the raid, police recovered two caliber .45 pistols, six magazines, 75 rounds of ammunition, and two hand grenades.
The suspect remains in police custody as authorities continue their investigation.
