Quezon mayoral bet, 4 others arrested for gun ban breach

MANILA, Philippines - A mayoral candidate in Quezon province and four companions, including his driver, were arrested at a checkpoint Friday afternoon for violation of the gun ban.

Former mayor Ramon Reyes, who is seeking to regain his former post in Buenavista town in the May elections, yielded a caliber .40 automatic pistol and ammunition.

The PNP-Directorate for Intelligence listed Reyes as one of the nine politicians in Southern Tagalog allegedly maintaining private armed groups, said Director Perfecto Palad, head of the Directorate for Integrated Police Operations in southern Luzon.

Reyes was heading home from Lucena City when his Toyota Hi-Lux with license plate UNP 975 was flagged down for routine inspection at the Commission on Elections (Comelec) checkpoint in Barangay Rosario, Gumaca town at around 1 p.m. Friday.

Reyes, according to reports reaching Palad, was arrested together with his driver Aldrin Zarsuelo and companions Alex Ricamara, Edgardo Tabiero, and Felix Medes, suspected members of the former mayor’s alleged private army.

During the course of the inspection, policemen manning the checkpoint found out that Zarsuelo had no driver’s license, and that Ricamara had a standing arrest warrant for murder and frustrated murder.

Palad said they are now closely coordinating with the Caloocan City police following reports that Ricamara is also facing a separate case there and a reward of P100,000 was offered for his arrest.

The caliber .40 pistol was found in a bag containing the personal belongings of Reyes, he said.

Palad said Reyes tried to prevent the lawmen from arresting his alleged private army members.

“Aside from violation of the Comelec gun ban, we will file obstruction of justice charges against him (Reyes),” Palad told The STAR.

In his report to Palad, Chief Superintendent Rolando Añonuevo, Calabarzon police director, said his men raided Reyes’ residence in Quezon on Sept. 4 last year and seized 11 firearms, including four caliber .45 pistols, a shotgun, two caliber .38 revolvers, an M-16 Armalite rifle, a caliber .22 handgun, and two caliber .380 handguns, and boxes of assorted bullets. ­     – With Michelle Zoleta