Samar mayor arrested for having private army

MANILA, Philippines - Police arrested on Wednesday a town mayor alleged to be maintaining a private army in Samar, but he was released several hours later after posting bail of P80,000.

Mayor Antonio Cabueños of Gandara, Samar was apprehended at a police checkpoint in Sta. Margarita, Samar by virtue of a warrant of arrest issued by Judge Manuel Torrevillas Jr. of the Northern Samar Regional Trial Court Branch 23.

Senior Superintendent Pancho Hubilla, Samar police director, said Cabueños was accused of violating Republic Act 7166 or the Omnibus Election Code in relation to Commission on Elections (Comelec) Resolution No. 8714.

Records showed that Cabueños was initially arrested at a checkpoint in Lavesarez, Northern Samar last Feb. 2 with several police bodyguards without proper authority from the Comelec.

Cabueños’ alleged bodyguards – PO3 Jonathan Rama, PO3 Edgar Delector, and PO2 Perfecto Merilles, all of the Gandara municipal police – are now under the custody of the Eastern Visayas police.

Hubilla said records of the Region 8 police identified Cabueños as the alleged maintainer of the “Moloboco” private army operating in Western Samar.

The private army was tagged in a series of politically motivated violent incidents in Calbayog City and nearby municipalities, particularly during the campaign period for the May 10 elections.

During the election period, Philippine National Police chief Director General Jesus Verzosa ordered an intensified campaign against private armies, particularly those involved in poll-related violence. 

Verzosa said the campaign against private armies resulted in the peaceful conduct of the May 10 polls.