Gun-toting man nabbed during Tondo procession

Alert operatives of the Western Police District (WPD)’s mobile patrol unit nabbed a gun-toting man during the annual procession of the Feast of the Sto. Niño yesterday morning in Tondo, Manila, where Mayor Lito Atienza led devotees in the celebration.

Mobile Patrol Unit chief Senior Inspector Wilfredo Estrella identified the suspect as Dennis Maglonzo, 35, jobless, of Tondo. An unlicensed caliber .38 revolver with six bullets was recovered from him.

According to Estrella, Mobile Car 318, with PO2 Neil Encarnacion and PO1 Arthur Mascariñas on board, was trailing the Sto. Niño procession past 10 a.m. at the corner of Velasquez and Dandan streets when the officers noticed a man wearing jacket frantically trying to inch his way in front of the procession.

Atienza and several of his local government officials were at the head of the procession.

The officers then noticed the butt of a gun sticking out from the man’s waist. Wasting no time, the two policemen immediately grappled with the suspect for the gun, which turned out to be unlicensed.

The suspect could not give a clear answer why he was carrying a gun during the procession. He is now undergoing interrogation at the Balut police station as illegal possession of a firearm charges were initially filed against him.

"We are still verifying whether he intends to hurt Mayor Atienza. It’s good my men were on their toes," Estrella said.

The police were placed on heightened alert following the alleged bomb threat on the Black Nazarene procession in Quiapo by Islamic militants last week.

Two more highly attended fiestas are scheduled to take place today in Manila. The Buling-Buling festival in Pandacan and the Feast of the Sto. Niño in Tondo, which attract hordes of participants including government officials and local and foreign tourists.

Estrella had mobilized his 180-strong crew to provide security and assistance to devotees of both city festivals. Checkpoints were also set up in strategic areas in the city especially at nightime.

"The WPD assures city residents, that just like the Quiapo fiesta, the festivals will be generally peaceful," Estrella said.