ILOILO CITY, Philippines — A rookie policeman was arrested for grave threats and violation of the election gun ban early morning on Monday while on a drinking binge at the Iloilo Terminal Market in this city.
Police Officer 1 Rex Totol, 26, of the 3rd Company of the Regional Public Safety Battalion (RPSB) 6, was the 19th person and the only law enforcer arrested for gun ban violation in Western Visayas.
Before his arrest, Totol was with his drinking buddies Alvin Siaotong, 33, and Cyril Mangalisan, 26. He then asked Mangalisan to buy him cigarettes.
At that time, he was already brandishing his .45-caliber pistol tucked on his waist. After Mangalisan left, Totol just kicked Siaotong on the stomach and pointed the gun at him.
Responding policemen later seized from Totol’s possession the gun loaded with six bullets.
Chief Supt. Agrimero Cruz, Jr., director of Police Regional Office-6, said his command would further intensify its campaign against illegal possession of firearm.
Western Visayas now ranked second in most number of arrested persons for gun ban next to the National Capital Region.
Of the 19 arrested persons, seven were from Iloilo province; three each in Aklan and Bacolod City; two each in Iloilo City and Negros Occidental; and one in Antique. The provinces of Capiz and Guimaras posted no arrest.
Thirteen low-powered and two high-powered firearms, a grenade and four bladed weapons were confiscated from the arrested suspects.
Five cases were already filed in court while 14 were still under investigation. (FREEMAN)