City policemen scramble over armed men report

A report of a vehicle loaded with armed men sent city policemen rushing to Pardo to verify it Sunday night, but it turned out to be a hoax.

Members of the Special Weapons and Tactics team, Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Branch, the Mobile Patrol Group, and the Pardo police were dispatched. The report said that a jeepney with armed men believed to be Scout Rangers was en route to the city from Argao. Past 7 p.m., policemen flagged down a dark green military-type jeep driven by a certain Ernesto Batucan of Basak Pardo.

Batucan was found to be an Air Soft member who had just arrived with his wife from the house of a certain Boy Minoza in Canohay, Argao where they held a combat training that day. He was later released after the police found out that he carries proper documents.

Air Soft is an organization engaged in war games and combat training.

City police director Melvin Gayotin yesterday admitted they did not have second thoughts upon receiving the report from the Regional Operation and Plans Division because of the political turmoil besetting the country today.

"Partly yes. With the present situation mao g'yud na imong hunahunaon nga basin og movement na for destabilization, although I was sure nga dili to amoa kay going to Cebu City man so there was a need to verify," Gayotin said.

He said they even asked the military's Central Command whether there was movement of Scout Rangers from the province going to the city.

Pardo police chief Alexis Relado told The FREEMAN that they actually received four reports about armed men going to the city the other day. The report about the military jeep was actually that of Batucan's group.

"Bloated naman yung report eh na sabi may naka mount daw na .30 cal machine gun sa harap ng sasakyan. Actually tubo lang yun na ang bala ay paint ball, yung ginagamit talaga sa war games," Relado said.