6 Bantay Dagat members arrested in Bataan

MANILA, Philippines — A police officer and five members of the sea patrol force Bantay Dagat were arrested for allegedly threatening the Philippine National Police Maritime Group (PNP-MARIG) personnel in Bataan province on Friday.

Brig. Gen. Jonathan Cabal, MARIG director, said their personnel were on seaborne patrol operations off Pilar town and Balanga City when the Bantay Dagat group approached them from another boat.

One of the Bantay Dagat member allegedly pointed a shotgun at the MARIG operatives, prompting the latter to introduce themselves.

Cabal said the MARIG personnel enforced their authority and boarded the group’s patrol boat, which turned out to be the Bantay Dagat patrol unit of Orion town.

Among those arrested were Cpl. Jhoffrey Sansano and Bantay Dagat members Lorenzo Mirasol, Ferdinand Dela Cruz, Romeo Borja, Guilbert Maro and Arnel Bernal. Recovered from their possession were a shotgun, a .45 caliber pistol and an M-16 rifle.