Joint police and military checkpoint arrested an active Special Partisan Unit (SPARU) member of the Communist Terrorist Group (CTG) along the national highway of Barangay Guadalupe, Esperanza town, Agusan del Sur yesterday (February 21).
POLICE BRIGADIER GENERAL ROMEO M CARAMAT, JR, Police Regional Office (PRO)13 Director identified the suspect as Recson C. Precioso, 28 years old, and resident of Brgy. San Jose, municipality of Esperanza in the same province.
Citing report from Agusan del Sur Police Provincial Office, the elements of Esperanza Municipal Police Station (MPS) and Charlie Company of the 26IB Philippine Army were conducting checkpoint around 3:40PM when they flagged down a Honda TMX motorcycle.
The government troops spotted a protruding handle of gun tucked on the suspect’s waist which turned out to be a caliber .357 revolver loaded with three ammunition.
Precioso failed to present supporting document such as License to Own and Possess Firearms upon verification.
However, based on information given by a former rebel, the suspect was a member of the SPARU unit of Guerilla Front 8, Northeastern Mindanao Regional Committee.
He was placed under the custody of Esperanza MPS and will be charged with violation of Republic Act No. 10591 or the Comprehensive Law on Firearms and Ammunition.
“PRO13 vows to stop any attempt of the CTG to sow violence in Caraga like killing government officials, uniformed personnel, and civilians. This accomplishment is a stern warning against those plotting terrorist design,” RD CARAMAT, JR added.
Earlier this year, POLICE GENERAL DEBOLD M SINAS had ordered police units to be more cautious and to monitor surroundings following the threat from the CTG on the deployment of SPARU against government forces. (PMAJ DOROTHY M TUMULAK, RPIO Camp Col Rafael C Rodriguez, Butuan City)