Suspended Batangas councilor arrested for illegal possession of firearm

BATANGAS, Philippines — A municipal councilor of Talisay town in Batangas was arrested by the operatives early Saturday morning for illegal possession of firearm, police said.

Criminal Investigation and Detection Group 4A Deputy Director Police Superintendent Ricky Neron said they served a search warrant against councilor Florencio "Lorenz" Pesigan issued by Judge Agripino Morga of San Pablo City Regional Trial Court past 5:00 a.m.

“We received information from his constituents that he is in possession of various firearms and his civilian companions are often seen with high powered firearms. When we checked with the Firearms and Explosives Unit (FEU), we found out that he is not authorized to possess firearms,” Neron said.

The operation resulted to the recovery of an unlicensed 12-gauge shotgun from Pesigan’s residence.

“He is now detained here in Camp Vicente Lim under the custody of CIDG and he will be subject for inquest on Monday morning,” Neron added.

For his part, Pesigan said that the shotgun belonged to his brother who passed away a long time ago.

Pesigan has been suspended from his duties as a municipal councilor since November 2017 after the Office of the Ombudsman ordered his one-year suspension from office without pay after he was found administratively liable for Oppression and Conduct Prejudicial to the Best Interest of the Service. 

The case stemmed from a complaint filed by Edgardo Nogra Auman, a security officer assigned at the Regional Consular Office of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) at Robinson’s Place, Lipa City.