BY GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Assorted high-powered guns with ammunition were recovered from a retired police officer, who claimed to be a “general”, during an entrapment operation at Rizal Street in Brgy. IV, Hinigaran, Negros Occidental on June 29.
Demosthenes Fernandez, 58, of Villa Angela Subdivision in Brgy. Villamonte, Bacolod City, was nabbed by combined forces from the Hinigaran police, troopers of the 2nd Negros Occidental Police Provincial Mobile Force Company, and intelligence operatives of the Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office.
Fernandez, a widower, was apprehended after selling a 9mm Ingram automatic pistol to Maj. Jake Barila, Hinigaran police chief, the police said.
More firearms, including M16 and M14 assault rifles, a 40 caliber pistol, another 9mm Ingram automatic pistol, a .38 caliber revolver, and a 9mm pistol, assorted ammunition and magazines of the confiscated firearms, numerous identification cards, a PNP badge, and buy-bust money were seized by the police during his arrest.
Barila said the suspect introduced himself as General Fernandez, and had been texting and calling him about the illegal drug trade in Hinigaran.
The suspect later told him that he was selling an Ingram automatic pistol for P60,000, Barila said.
This prompted Barila to coordinate with the 2nd NOCPMFC for an operation, with him as the poseur buyer, he added. Fernandez is now detained at the custodial facility of the Hinigaran Police Station.*
