MORE than P1 million worth of high-powered rifles were donated by a businessman to the Police Regional Office (PRO) 7 yesterday morning.
Chief Supt. Noli Taliño, the PRO 7 director, said the firearms will be used by the future PRO 7 Special Weapons and Tactics team.
The official said there are other private individuals, mostly businessmen, who pledged to give bulletproof vests and Kevlar helmets.
Taliño admitted that there are substandard equipment and malfunctioning firearms used by some operatives. Camp Crame had given firearms to Cebu City Police Office last month.
“Sana may peace-loving Cebuanos na mag-donate pa (I hope more peace-loving Cebuanos will donate),” he said.
Help
For his part, the donor said he wants to help the local police force and he was inspired by Taliño’s stint at the Special Action Force.
Four units of special operations assault rifle (SOAR) sub-compact weapons and a SOAR-designated marksman rifle were given by Alan Francis Sy, the owner of Ferfrans Specialties and Trading.
Meanwhile, four police officers were awarded by Taliño for arresting suspected drug pusher Barameda Castro II and confiscating P1.8 million worth of shabu in San Fernando last February.
PO2 Oscar Badilla, PO2 Cleofas Cabrera Jr., PO1 Rodjie Alicaway, and PO1 Samuel Siasol received the Medalya ng Kagalingan, the Philippine National Police Medal of Merit.
High-powered firearms, a grenade and drug paraphernalia were also confiscated from Castro during the operation.
Arrest
Six visitors to Castro’s alleged drug den in Barangay Bugho were also arrested. They were identified as Mario Aradillos Canoy, Joey Jivera Manano, Warren Jakusalem Jose, Joselito Antipolo Cabasag; Dionesio Canoy Baroman, and Alejandro Paner Omamalin.
