Day 1 of election gun ban: 4 killed, 5 nabbed

MANILA, Philippines - A village chairman in Isabela and three others in Samar were killed at the start of the implementation of the election gun ban last Sunday.

At least five persons, including a barangay captain in Pangasinan and a civilian escort of a politician in Zamboanga City, were also arrested for violation of the election gun ban.

An unidentified gunman barged into a dancing hall and shot Victor Soriano Acoba, 43, chairman of Barangay San Vicente in San Pablo, Isabela province in the head in front of his wife.

Lito Abajo Buracan, 34, who has a standing warrant of arrest for frustrated murder and murder; William Someno Bello, 22; and Dencio de la Cruz, all residents of Barangay Migara in Calbayog City, were fatally shot at 1:50 a.m.           

Reynante Buscagan, 36, and Inocenta Casaljay Demeterio of Barangays Migara and Alibaba, respectively, were wounded and confined at the Calbayog Hospital.

The victims were on their way home after attending a fiesta celebration in Barangay Alibaba when unidentified men shot them with a caliber. 45 pistol.

A source said the victims were alleged members of a private armed group in Samar and were about to surrender to Interior and Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas before the signing of a peace covenant among the candidates last Sunday.

However, Superintendent Elmer Beringuel Cinco, Calbayog City police chief, denied that the shooting was election-related.

Nabbed at checkpoint

A caliber .45 pistol was seized from Robert Valdez Jorgio, 45, chairman of Barangay Macabito in Calasiao town at a checkpoint. 

Jorgio’s gun was licensed but  he did not apply for a gun ban exemption.

In Western Visayas, Roberto Norilla, 18, a resident of Barangay San Fernando in San Jose, Antique and Florentino Pepito, 32, of Barangay Manili, Banate, Iloilo were arrested for carrying a caliber .22 revolver and caliber .38 revolver, respectively.

Sabandro Manuel, 42, a security escort of a city councilor in Zamboanga City, was arrested at a checkpoint along the Maria Clara Lobregat National Highway in Barangay Boalan.

Manuel has a permit to carry firearm outside residence and a license for his 9mm beretta but did not apply for a gun ban exemption.

A man was also arrested and his two firearms were confiscated at a checkpoint in Barangay Dimasalang Norte in Talavera, Nueva Ecija.

Fernando Alvarez, 20, a resident of Barangay San Vicente, could not show any document for the caliber .25 handgun in his possession.

A .22 caliber gun was also found in a restroom at a videoke bar in Barangay Tobac, Tarlac, which an unidentified man was said to have left when policemen arrived.

Chief Superintendent Edgardo Ladao, Police Regional Office-3 director said 52,584 various firearms were accounted for in Central Luzon under the police’s “Oplan Katok.” 

Meanwhile, Deputy Speaker and Zamboanga City Rep. Ma. Isabella Climaco called on the candidates and the public to ensure the  successful implementation of the 150-day election gun ban.

Former Senate president Ernesto Maceda also asked the Philippine National Police to review and tighten its rules on the issuance of licenses and permit to carry guns.

Maceda also reiterated his call for the DILG chief to enforce a sustained drive to account for the 500,999 unlicensed firearms in the country. – Raymund Catindig, Fred Padernos, Eva Visperas, Roel Pareño, Ric Sapnu, Jose Rodel Clapano, Paolo Romero