Cops: Armed men in San Fernando just locals

CEBU, Philippines - Five armed men arrested in San Fernando town last Tuesday are just natives of Cebu and are not from Mindanao, this according to Police Regional Office-7 regional director Chief Supt. Lani-o Nerez.

Nerez said that the men claimed that they were hired by a politician but the authorities have yet to confirm the said allegations. He also said that they cannot yet conclude if these armed men were partisans.

Nerez also thanked the personnel of the Armed Forces of the Philippines who arrested Nelson Caballero, 36; Jayson Cabrera, 23; Virgilio Mala-ay,44; and Jackson Salas, 42, all from Cebu City, and Macario Delima, a barangay tanod of Cabatbatan, San Fernando.

Although those arrested were armed, Nerez explained that this is not enough reason to put San Fernando town under the election watchlist of areas.

Nerez said that the Commission on Elections has parameters to consider in placing the area under their watchlist.

Checkpoints and foot patrols of the AFP and PNP in San Fernando will continue to prevent any untoward incidents.

The five men were arrested last Tuesday evening by the members of the AFP conducting a patrol in the mountain barangays of San Fernando.

They were filed with illegal possession of firearms and violation of the Comelec gun ban.

Except for Delima the suspects were in possession of two .38 cal. revolvers, a .357 magnum revolver and a knife.

Salas and Cabrera were also in possession of military IDs showing that they are confidential agents of the AFP.

Members of the 78th Infantry Battalion led by 1st Lt. Jay Dayap accosted the suspects in a nipa hut owned by Delima in Barangay Cabatbatan around 9:30 p.m. last Tuesday after receiving information about the presence of armed men in the area.

Salas, in an interview over dyLA, admitted they were hired to work for Vice Mayor Antonio Canoy who is running for mayor against reelectionist Mayor Lakambini Reluya.

Salas said a certain Crisente Ricaplaza and retired policeman Ben Abella hired them to help maintain peace and order in San Fernando.

Salas identified Barangay Magsiko councilman Elvino Arañas, a known supporter of Canoy, as the one who paid them P3,200 each.

It was also Arañas who gave them instructions to watch for people who will harass the voters and engage in vote-buying on election day. — THE FREEMAN