CEBU, Philippines - Six men were placed under arrest in three towns after they were found in possession of firearms, violating the gun ban implemented by the Commission on Elections.
Two of the six were arrested dawn yesterday in barangay Cabadiangan, Compostela town. The suspects were identified as Gerald Wagas Yungco, 23, and Emeliano Dawat Angosar, 34, both residents of the town.
Yungco and Angosar were placed under arrest after they were accosted by a team of the Compostela police led by Sr. Insp. Milo Dagasdas that was patrolling the area past 1:30 am yesterday. Police said the two suspects were allegedly walking confidently with their firearms despite seeing the police car.
Seized from the suspects were a M-16 baby armalite rifle with 29 live ammunition and a carbine rifle with 10 live ammunition.
Provincial Police Director Sr. Supt. Erson Digal said the suspects will not reveal who hired them and from where they acquired the firearms. He said they have received information that Yungco and Angosar have connections to a certain politician, but the information is still subject to verification.
Also yesterday, two suspected supporters of a politician were arrested in Liloan town after they were caught with a .38 caliber revolver; indelible ink; P30,000 cash; cellphones, and a paper that contains a list of those who allegedly received the money.
Arrested were Reynante Ferrer and Venirando Perez, both residents of Liloan.
Digal said it was a concerned citizen who informed them first about the presence of armed men evening last Sunday. They also received the same information from a politician. The information eventually proved positive, which led authorities to the suspects who were still in possession of the gun and election paraphernalia when accosted.
Further information gathered by the police revealed that the suspects would bribe voters and use the indelible ink to make it appear that the voters have already cast their ballots.
Meanwhile, last Sunday, two men who claimed to be supporters of Carcar City mayoralty candidate Dr. Nestor Velez were arrested for possession of a .38 revolver with six live ammunitions.
Enemesio Lawas, 51, a carpenter, and Argie Gempasao, 21, a technician, were arrested by members of the 78th Infantry Battalion at a waiting shade in sitio Laguna, Barangay Guadalupe in Carcar City. Both are now detained at the Carcar City Police Station.
In an interview yesterday, Lawas pointed to one Roy Velez, the brother of Dr. Velez, as the one who allegedly hired them supposedly to escort money for barangay leaders. They were allegedly hired for a day and was promised an honorarium of P1,000 each.
Lawas said it was Roy’s point man, a certain “Budoy,” who allegedly gave him the firearm and ammunition.
He said he does not have enough knowledge on guns, but admitted he could fire one given the situation, hence, he accepted the firearm. They were reportedly waiting for Roy to arrive at the waiting shed when armed men arrived and arrested them.
What surprised him, however, he said, was that “Budoy,” who was with them, was allegedly not arrested.
In a separate interview, Dr. Velez denied backing the men and even pointed to fellow Carcar mayoralty candidate Nicepuro Apura as being behind the move to discredit his candidacy.
Velez also accused barangay captain Jun Bacus and councilman Felix Napas of Barangay Buenavista of allegedly discouraging his supporters from voting. Bacus and Napas are known supporters of Apura.
Velez alleged that his supporters were on their way to the polling centers when they were allegedly blocked by Bacus and Napas and were forced to go the barangay hall where they were allegedly given P200 each in exchange of not voting. He alleged further that Bacus inked the index voters of the supporters to make it appear that they have already cast their ballots.
Velez said his lawyers are not collating evidence and testimonies of witnesses for the possible filing of charges against Apura.
Apura had denied the accusations. (FREEMAN NEWS)