Five Talisay tanods charged for illegal possession of firearms

CEBU, Philippines – Criminal charges for illegal possession of firearms were filed in court yesterday against five tanods of barangay Maghaway in Talisay City, one of which is linked in the killing of Assistant Cebu City Prosecutor Patrick Osorio.

The five were arrested in separate raids early yesterday morning conducted by the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group 7 by virtue of search warrants issued by Regional Trial Court Judge Soliver Peras.

The raids yielded assorted firearms and ammunitions, including three caliber 45 pistols, two shotguns, one caliber 357 revolver, one caliber 22 revolver, two air guns convertible to caliber 22 and one M1 Carbine rifle. The police also recovered assorted live ammunitions.

Talisay City Prosecutor Marshal Rubia elevated the cases for violation of the Republic Act 8294 or the illegal possession of firearms against Susano Labrador, Allan Sinogat, Florencio Labrador, Felix Abacahan, Jr. and his father, Felix, Sr.

The five accused accompanied by their lawyer, Ivan Herrero, posted P60,000 bail each for their temporary liberty.

Sinogat, 31, deputy chief tanod of barangay Maghaway, was earlier linked by the Cebu City Police Office in the killing of Osorio January this year. The complaint for murder is still pending for preliminary investigation before the Regional State Prosecutor’s Office.

In an interview yesterday, Sinogat told The Freeman that he has proof to show he was just in his residence when Osorio was ambushed last January 6 in barangay Mambaling, Cebu City.

He also promised to surrender to the CIDG as soon as a warrant of arrest is issued against him in relation to Osorio’s murder. Sinogat said he has no intention of running away from the case because he is innocent.

Abacahan, Jr., on the other hand admitted they were keeping the firearms confiscated from them by CIDG. He said the firearms were to protect themselves from alleged threats by relatives of former barangay councilman Pedro Delvo who was killed during their fiesta.

Abacahan, Jr. was also injured during the shooting but survived the six gunshot wounds he sustained on his stomach after Delvo allegedly shot him. Delvo was killed by Abacahan, Jr.’s colleague who came to Abacahan’s rescue.

Abacahan, Jr. said they were told that Delvo’s relatives would attack them anytime, thus they took it upon themselves to be armed.

Abacahan Jr. said he would be ready to engage in a shootout with anyone who wishes to hurt him and his family but he did not fire a shot during the raid reportedly because he recognized that it was the police that was coming. — Fred P. Languido/JMO (THE FREEMAN)