Councilor caught with illegal gun

CEBU, Philippines - A town councilor in Carmen, northern Cebu was arrested by the police for possession of a loose firearm in a checkpoint on the national road of Barangay Ipil, Carmen Tuesday afternoon.

Councilor James Camara, 45, of Barangay Poblacion, was armed with a KG9 automatic machine pistol with 16 rounds of bullets while on board his multicab bearing plate number YKY 535 when arrested by the police.

Carmen Police Chief Insp. Alvin Balio asked for documents but Camara failed to show any. Balio said they have been receiving reports from the residents of Barangay Ipil of someone who always fired a gun.

“Murag naay problema sa bukid kay naay report nga dunay nagpabuto pero dili namo ma-confirm kung siya kay wala may musulti,”Balio said in a phone interview.

Camara owns a parcel of land in Barangay Ipil but police still have to investigate why he carries a rifle.

“Ako gyud nang gipa-monitor diha kung si kinsa ang magpabuto maayo ug ma-timingan,” Balio said.

PO3 Roger Delan was on duty and decided to return home to get something important when he saw that Camara was armed. He then called the police station for assistance which prompted the police to conduct a checkpoint operation.

Camara is currently confined at a hospital in Cebu City for suffering high blood pressure during the arrest.

A case for illegal possession of firearm against Camara was filed yesterday afternoon at the Cebu Provincial Prosecutor’s Office.

Three days ago, a councilor of another town was also arrested.

Ronda town Councilor Lucino Villafuerte and his companion, Lucino Carreon, were arrested for killing a monkey at an eco-tourism site in Malabuyoc town.

The two are facing charges for violating Republic Act 9147 or the Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act and Republic Act 8294 or the law that prohibits illegal possession of firearms.

The police recovered a dead monkey inside a sack. Police also confiscated M-34 Armalite with 36 rounds of ammunition and a 22 Armscor Magnum rifle with five ammunition.

Both are allowed to post P12,000 bail. – (FREEMAN)