Firearms seized from village chief tagged in robbery

BUTUAN CITY – A barangay captain linked to a robbery at a pension house in Surigao City was arrested at his home, in Malimono town, Surigao del Norte, where several firearms were seized on Wednesday.

Dominador Dalubatan, chief of Barangay Binucaran, Malimono, was identified by a room boy as the man who broke into the RSY Pension House in Barangay Taft, said Inspector Joel Cabañes chief of the Surigao City police intelligence unit.

Cabañes said his men were not aware that the man they arrested was a village chief.

The suspect’s family and other village officials reportedly tried to prevent the police officers from arresting Dalubatan.

Cabañes said the suspect even tried to get a gun from a room in his house, where several firearms – including an M-16 Armalite and a caliber .45 pistol – and ammunition were discovered.

Investigators are checking if the firearms are covered by licenses.