3 men nabbed for road mishap, gun ban violation

Three men on board an armored van were arrested by the Compostela police noontime Monday after the vehicle they were riding on accidentally hit a man on a motorcycle and were found to be carrying firearms without permits to carry, thus violating the Commission on Elections gun ban.

Arrested were Godofredo Jabalde Jr., driver of the Mahogany Security Agency armored van and security guards Pedro Zapanta Jr. and Dennis Steve Estrada.

The three were arrested after they accidentally hit Auditor Cabatingan of barangay Canamocan.

SPO1 Pedro Enriquez of the Compostela police station said that Cabatingan, who was a candidate for kagawad in barangay Canamocan, was own his way home after casting his vote last Monday when the armored van hit him. Cabatingan was riding his motorcycle and was approaching sitio Guimbal of the said barangay when the accident happened.

Enriquez said that the victim was immediately brought to the Chong Hua Hospital after he lost a toe and sustained injuries in different parts of his body.

The driver and the two security guards, who were in full uniform and were carrying an M-16 rifle, a shot gun and a .38 caliber revolver were then arrested by the responding policemen after they failed to produce documents when asked if they were able to get gun ban exemptions from the Comelec.

Cases of reckless imprudence resulting to physical injuries and violations of the Comelec gun ban were already filed against the three men yesterday. – Flor Z. Perolina/QSB