Lawaan ex-councilman arrested for harassment

A former barangay councilman who was once declared the most wanted man in Talisay City was arrested with a cousin when he and several others allegedly harassed a neighbor by firing his gun then assaulting responding policemen yesterday dawn in sitio Molave, San Jose Village, barangay Lawaan III, Talisay City.

Former councilman Celestino Barliso, 55, was reportedly with his cousins Teodoro Barliso, Matra Barliso and a certain "Peddy", all residents of said barangay, when he allegedly harassed their neighbor, a certain Leo Gaudiel.

However, only Celestino and Teodoro were arrested. Their other two companions were able to flee.

PO2 Leandro Azarcon said that Gaudiel complained against the suspects when he noticed them boring a hole in the fence behind his house.

The suspects reportedly got mad at him when he confronted them and Celestino allegedly fired his gun six times to scare Gaudiel away.

SPO1 Ricardo Balbutin who was with the responding team also alleged that Celestino assaulted them during the arrest by pulling his .45 cal. pistol, but that they were able to contain him immediately.

The Talisay City Police will charge Celestino for direct assault.

He turned out to be an erstwhile most wanted person in Talisay city when he was accused of killing a member of a cause-oriented group, but was later on cleared of the charges.

Confiscated from him were a .45 cal. pistol and a magazine with eight live bullets, and a .38 cal. revolver with six live bullets.

Celestino and Teodoro are now detained at the Talisay city detention cell while waiting for appropriate charges to be filed against them today at the prosecutor's office. - Gregg M. Rubio