By Jennifer P. Rendon
A road accident in Barangay Seminario, Jaro in Iloilo City led to the arrest of the first gun ban violator in Western Visayas as the election period began on January 12.
The suspect, a 41-year-old businessman known as “Alias Ryan,” of Barangay Tabuc Suba, Jaro, Iloilo City, was not apprehended at a checkpoint but during a response to the vehicular mishap.
Police said Ryan was driving a Toyota Hilux pickup around 1:10 a.m. Sunday when it crashed into a row of bibingka kiosks. Responding officers from Iloilo City Police Station 9 discovered multiple firearms in plain view inside the vehicle.
Recovered items included a Smith & Wesson Springfield 9mm pistol with a magazine loaded with eight rounds, a Smith & Wesson Houlton .38 caliber pistol with eight rounds, and an Armalite M15A2 rifle with eight magazines and 251 rounds of ammunition.
Police Captain Gimel Acuesta confirmed that two civilians sustained minor injuries in the incident, while Ryan was unscathed.
When questioned, Ryan claimed he dozed off at the wheel, causing the accident.
Incident Details
Witnesses reported that Ryan attended a party connected to the Leganes Saad Festival before the crash. While there were unconfirmed reports of a fourth district vice mayor and a second district mayor visiting the scene, police verified only the presence of Ryan’s girlfriend.
There were also rumors that the Toyota Hilux was owned by a mayor, but documents presented by Ryan indicated the vehicle was registered to a certain Jake Derequito.
When asked about the firearms, Ryan declined to comment. Authorities are verifying the classification and ownership of the weapons with the Regional Civil Security Unit (RCSU) 6.
Ryan is currently detained and faces charges for violating Republic Act 10591 (Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act) and the Omnibus Election Code.
This is not Ryan’s first arrest involving illegal firearms. On August 22, 2018, police in Butuan City raided his house in Barangay Baan, recovering two .45 caliber pistols, six magazines, 75 rounds of ammunition, and two hand grenades.
Authorities Stress Compliance
Iloilo City Police Chief Colonel Kim Legada emphasized the importance of adhering to the gun ban during the election period.
“This arrest serves as a strong reminder that the ICPO will not tolerate any violations of election laws. We remain steadfast in our mission to ensure public safety and uphold the rule of law,” Legada said.
The ICPO urged the public to report gun ban violations or election-related offenses through hotline numbers 0908-377-0194 and 335-0299 or by contacting their nearest police station.
