BY GLAZYL MASCULINO
BACOLOD CITY – A delivery truck driver was arrested after he was caught in a police checkpoint transporting firearms from Cebu to Bacolod via Danao port in Barangay Old Poblacion, Escalante City, Negros Occidental over the weekend.
Police identified the suspect as Janito Chua, 53, of Barangay La Granja, La Carlota City.
Maj. Gil Despi, city police chief, said Chua was sighted by police carrying a .45-caliber pistol while he was driving a wingvan truck loaded with hog feeds to be delivered in the province on Saturday.
Despi said delivery trucks were usually subjected for inspection and disinfection at the port to check possible contrabands and illegal entry of locally stranded individuals (LSIs) from Cebu who might ride delivery trucks to enter the province.
Upon the inspection, police found three boxes containing seven .45-caliber pistols, 15 magazines, and four live ammunition at the back of the vehicle, the police chief said.
Despi said they subjected the firearms for verification to determine if it had licenses.
He said the suspect initially denied the allegations against him, but later told the police that it was reportedly his third time to transport firearms.
But the police officer believes that the suspect might have done it a couple of times already.
He said charges for illegal possession of firearms and ammunition will be filed against Chua who is now under police custody. (Glazyl Masculino)
