Supposed settlement ends up quite wrong

CEBU, Philippines - Four persons were arrested for bring fire arms and bladed weapons inside Mabolo Barangay Hall during a supposed amicable settlement past 8 o'clock on Tuesday night.

Arrested were Dolor Damasin, 35, of Babag II, Cordova; Danilo Fernandez, 33, of Tabunok, Talisay City; Friscillo Cabusas Jr., 35, of  Babag II, Cordova; and Roger Capricho, 40, of Lawaan II, Talisay City.

Police investigation revealed that Kenneth Phillip Uy, 24, of Barangay Mabolo saw one of the suspects bringing a hand gun and quickly reported it to the barangay tanods on duty.

Barangay tanod Zosimo Cinco in a telephone interview said Friscillo Cabusas Jr. complained Uy because of their business transactions, but he instead landed straight in jail.

Few minutes before their scheduled meeting, Cinco noticed that Cabusas' companions were so tensed. He added that Cabusas went to the upper floor followed by Damasin while Capricho and Fernandez stayed at the ground floor.

Uy and his wife followed them, said Cinco, but few minutes later, Uy's wife asked Cinco to frisk Cabusas and Danasin because she believed that one of them brought a firearm.

Following the report, Cinco and Edgar Sanchez placed them under surveillance.

"Nagsuspetsa mi nga naa sila'y armas… medyo lain man ang ilang lihok," Cinco said.

They immediately called for assistance of Mabolo Police and requested back-up from their fellow barangay tanods who cornered the suspects inside the Barangay Hall.

Recovered from Damasin were a .38 caliber pistol, a magazine loaded with three live ammos, and a yellow cutter. Police recovered a .38 caliber revolver from Fernandez with three hollow point live ammos and three live ammos inside his pocket.

Police and the tanods recovered a Leatherman toolbox with a knife in it and a wooden chaco from Cabusas, while a knife was also recovered from Capricho.

All four of them were brought to Mabolo Police Station where they are currently detained.

Police and barangay officials are now studying what charges to file against them. — (FREEMAN)