By Jennifer P. Rendon
Two persons were arrested for illegal possession of firearms on separate occasions evening of May 23, 2020 in Iloilo province.
John Mark Catipunan, 21, of Barangay Cabugao, Calinog, and Joselito Valencia, 56, were nabbed around 9:15 p.m. on Saturday.
Members of Calinog Police Station and village officials manning the border checkpoint at Barangay Cabugao arrested the suspect after gunfire was heard in the area.
It was learned that a gun accidentally went off with the bullet hitting Catipunan’s left palm and left thigh.
He was rushed to Western Visayas Medical Center in Iloilo City for treatment.
Police also recovered from Catipunan a homemade 12-gauge shotgun (break type) with a spent cartridge in its barrel.
Meanwhile, Valencia was arrested at a checkpoint in Barangay Compo, San Enrique town.
Members of San Enrique Police Station conducting a checkpoint seized a caliber .45 pistol (serial number (3222877) with four magazines with 34 live ammunition and a knife from Valencia’s possession.
The suspects are now detained and will be charged for violation of Republic Act 10591 (Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act).
