Armed man tailing Mayor Rama nabbed

CEBU, Philippines - A retired army sergeant was arrested by the bodyguard of Mayor Michael Rama for holding a .45 cal. pistol while following the mayor who was inspecting the asphalting of roads in Sitio Alaska, Barangay Mambaling, yesterday noon.

PO1 Marlon Villanueva of the Special Weapons and Tactics team was quick to disarm retired sergeant Gumersindo Cañete and place him under arrest on suspicion that he was planning to kill the mayor.

But Cañete, who was apparently drunk during his arrest, denied he planned to kill the mayor.

Rama talked to Cañete for a while and said he does not believe that the suspect was out to harm him.

Rama’s visit to Sitio Alaska, Mambaling, yesterday was not scheduled because he decided to visit the place only when he was informed by the officials of the Department of Engineering and Public Works about the ongoing asphalting project.

“I was following the mayor at a distance, when I saw a man holding a gun I immediately arrested him,” Villanueva said in Cebuano.

The pistol had seven live rounds.

Aside from his close-in escorts, the mayor also has some plainclothes policemen following him whenever he leaves the office.

Cañete showed the police his firearm license and permit to carry firearms outside residence reportedly issued by the Firearms and Explosives Unit in Camp Crame, but SWAT chief Stanley Sabang said they will determine first if the documents are legitimate.

Cañete failed to explain why he was holding his gun while following the mayor.

“Kaila man ko ni mayor og ni Philip Rama nga taga-dinhi usab sa Alaska,” Cañete said, referring to a relative of the Mayor who lives in the area.

Rama said he will not prevent the police from filing charges against Cañete if evidence warrants.

“Dili ko molaban kon may sala g’yud siya ikiha g’yud. Kanunay ko nga nagpasidaan nga ang armas dili g’yud kakomedyahan,” the mayor told reporters. — /BRP (FREEMAN)