Mayor, body guards violate poll gun ban

LA, TRINIDAD, Benguet – An armed mayor and two of his bodyguards were held along a checkpoint in Bangued, Abra's capital town.

Licuan-Baay town mayor Alejo Siddayao Domingo, 63, and his bodyguards Noel Culangen Bay-ed, 32, from Kilong-ulao, Boliney and Eddie Boy Balweg Paredes, 30, from Nalbuan, also in Baay-Licuan were flagged down along a checkpoint in Zone 7, Bangued, Abra’s capital town and policemen found them keeping high-powered firearms despite the nationwide gun ban.

Abra police director Sr. Supt. Benjamin Lusad said policemen from the Abra Police Provincial Public Safety Company (PPSC) who were conducting a checkpoint seized a .45 caliber pistol with a magazine loaded with six bullets from Paredes, and a Norinco .45 caliber pistol with a magazine loaded with 4 bullets from Bay-ed.

Lusad said Domingo admitted he owned the firearms but was not able to present appropriate documentation showing his exemption from the gun ban.

Charges were filed against the mayor and his bodyguards, police said.

In Benguet, the background of three males are being checked after they were arrested for wielding a gun at a checkpoint in Beckel, La Trinidad town Sunday morning.

Benguet police director Sr. Supt. Rodolfo Azurin, Jr. named those being investigated are Sunny Daguio, 22, a native of Dupao, Pinukpuk, Kalinga and alleged leader of the group; and his two cohorts Jomar Mayangao Pagang, 30, native of Bauko, Mt. Province and Rey Cajigan Pinasig, 20, a native of Lepanto, Mankayan, Benguet.

Azurin said some told policemen to flag down a Kia Besta van with the suspects on it. The tip was proven right when policemen found a .38 caliber revolver with the suspects.

Azurin said the van is impounded until the three, who were also temporarily detained, could show them they own it.