Chief tanod of Suba arrested with firearm

CEBU, Philippines - The chief tanod of Barangay Suba, Cebu City, was arrested by the Regional Special Operation Group of the Police Regional Office-7 for possession of an unlicensed firearm yesterday afternoon.

Michael Yburan, 49, admitted that he was in possession of a .45 cal. pistol loaded with seven live rounds when he was arrested by the police around 2:30 p.m.

Yburan said he knew what he did was illegal but reasoned that he needed to protect himself against criminals whenever he went on duty.

He told The FREEMAN that he saw the police heading towards him thinking they would buy fish at that time.

“Gitawag ko nila so nagtuo ko nga mopalit sila og isda unya gikuha man akong armas,” Yburan said.

Yburan added that a concerned citizen may have called the police to arrest him.

“Nikuyog ko kay pareho mi manakupay… magdala gani ang tulisan ako na ba,” he said.

Yburan has been working as a tanod for 12 years now.

The pistol was allegedly given to him by Sr. Supt. Melvin Gayotin in 2007 when he arrested a robber in Cebu City. Gayotin was the city police director at the time.

Charges for violating the Commission on Elections gun ban and illegal possession of firearms will be filed against Yburan who is now detained at the PRO-7 stockade.

According to Association of Barangay Councils President Michael Ralota, their office has not provided a lawyer for Yburan.

“I checked with our legal counsel Atty. Jenny Aclan, we have not given him a lawyer. This is because their barangay has not paid their annual dues for 2013,” Ralota told The FREEMAN.

He further explained that barangays are required to pay an annual due of 1.3 percent of their barangay Internal Revenue Allotment.

“Based on our records, Barangay Suba has not paid their dues for this year. So we cannot provide them a lawyer,” Ralota added.

When asked if he personally knew Yburan, the ABC president said he does not recall personally meeting him.

“Daghan man gud kaayong tanod sa mga barangay. Unya, mag ilis-ilis sad na sila depende sa discretion sa kapitan. Ang mga kapitan nuon, kaila kaayo ko ana nila,” he explained. — Ria Mae Y. Booc

Jessa J. Agua/BRP (FREEMAN)