Town councilor charged for possessing explosives

A northern town councilor was charged yesterday with illegal possession of explosives following the seizure by the National Bureau of Investigation of sacks of ammonium nitrate from his resort last month.

The NBI filed the case against Medellin town Councilor Rene Olivar for violation of Section 3 of the Presidential Decree 1866 as amended by Republic Act 8294 before the Cebu Provincial Prosecutor's Office.

NBI operatives led by Special Investigator Gregorio Algoso swooped down on Olivar's resort in barangay Tindog in the early morning of February 8 and confiscated 60 bags of ammonium nitrate.

Olivar's resort was one of the subjects of the five search warrants issued by Lapu-Lapu City Regional Trial Court Executive Judge Geraldine Faith Econg against the councilor.

The simultaneous raids on Olivar's different properties yielded at least 96 bags of ammonium nitrate. The other subjects of the search warrant were located in nearby barangay Lamintak where several sacks of ammonium nitrate were also seized.

The NBI is expected to file more charges against Olivar within the next few days because of the recovery of more sacks of ammonium nitrate from his other properties.

An examination conducted by the NBI laboratory confirmed that the 96 bags seized during the raids contained explosive ingredients. The Philippine National Police Firearms and Explosives, Security and Guards Supervision Section issued a certification that Olivar is not authorized to possess explosives, particularly the items seized from his properties.

The filing of the case was delayed since Olivar was not around during the raid, as the NBI has to conduct further investigation and issue subpoena to the councilor to explain his side.

Olivar's farmhand, Segundino Cuizon, who was arrested during the raid, was earlier charged for the same case but was exonerated by the Provincial Prosecutor's Office because of the technicality in the serving of the search warrant.

The house that was reportedly searched by the NBI and where Cuizon was arrested was not the same as described in the search warrant, which stated that it is located in barangay Lamintak but it is actually located in barangay Tindog. - Fred P. Languido/LPM