Two more gun ban violators nabbed in EV

By RPCRD, Police Regional Office 8
April 23, 2013

Camp Sec. Kangleon, Palo, Leyte – With barely three weeks before the elections, the Police Regional Office 8 (PRO8) arrested two more persons for gun ban violations in Southern Leyte on Friday night.

PRO8 Director Police Chief Superintendent Elmer Ragadio Soria identified the suspects as Joel Famor y Tabar alias Jojo, 44, married and a resident of Brgy. Gakat, Libagon, Southern Leyte and Renato Dagaas y Cupan alias Nato, 40, married and a resident of Brgy Maac, Sogod, also in Southern Leyte who were arrested for carrying high-powered firearms.

“The accomplishments in implementing the gun ban is an indication that the security plan we have laid out in coordination with the different government agencies is adequate for the purpose of ensuring secured and fair elections,” Soria said.

This brings to 104 the arrested gun ban violators in Eastern Visayas since the start of election period on January 13 this year with 85 firearms of assorted calibers confiscated and 86 cases filed in different courts throughout the region.

Soria informed that at around 10:30 PM on Friday, Brgy. Chairman Roberto Cabelin of Brgy. Himakilo, Bontoc, Southern Leyte personally reported to Bontoc Municipal Police Station about the presence of two men carrying long firearms at the vicinity of Sitio Tabunok in Brgy Guinsangan.

A police team led by PInsp. Richel Collado immediately proceeded to the area to check the veracity of the report which resulted to the apprehension of the suspects.

Recovered from the two were one Colt caliber 5.56 mm M4A1 assault rifle more popularly known as “baby armalite” bearing serial number 3399617 loaded with a magazine with ten live ammunitions and one caliber 7.62 mm improvised M14 rifle with Chinese markings loaded with one magazine with ten live ammunitions.

“An investigation is underway on the possible connections of the suspects to some politicians or criminal groups in the area,” Soria added.