Army man, Brgy. Chairman, latest gun ban violators in EV

By RPCRD, Police Regional Office 8
February 6, 2013

CAMP SEC. KANGLEON, Palo, Leyte – A member of the Philippine Army and a village chair are now among the latest violators of the Commission on Elections’ gun ban, the Police Regional Office 8 (PRO8) announced.

The army man was arrested during a police patrol operation while the firearm of the barangay chairman was seized by his own brother and turned-over to the police over the weekend.

“PRO8 will remain active in enforcing the gun ban through checkpoints, search warrants and focus police operations to ensure the success of the Secure and Fair Elections (SAFE 2013) program,” Police Chief Superintendent Elmer Ragadio Soria, PRO8 Regional Director said.

Soria added that since the start of the gun ban last January 13, PRO8 have already arrested 14 violators and confiscated 20 assorted firearms. Three of the violators were arrested in Comelec checkpoints, 3 nabbed during the implementation of search warrants, 6 were arrested as a result of police response and patrol operations and two by citizen’s arrest.

Of the 20 confiscated firearms, 9 were .45 caliber pistols, three .38 caliber revolvers, three shotguns, one .22 caliber revolver, one .22 caliber air rifle, a homemade shotgun (bardog) and two PVC cannons or boga.

Reports reaching PRO8 disclosed that one Cpl. Ernie Buton y Densing, assigned at Brgy. Maduruto patrol base of the 43rd Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army in Matuguinao, Samar was arrested on Saturday night while carrying a caliber .45 Colt 1911 pistol with serial number 758204 with 6 ammunitions by elements of the Regional Public Safety Battalion (RPSB8) who were conducting foot patrol operations in the vicinity of Brgy. Mabuligon of said town.

Buton was in civilian attire and reportedly under the influence of liquor when accosted by the police. He failed to show any gun license or any document exempting him from the gun ban.

The army man, with the confiscated firearm, was immediately brought to Matuguinao Municipal Police Station for proper disposition.

Meanwhile, in a separate incident, the Leyte Municipal Police Station in Leyte province is preparing appropriate charges to be filed against Barangay Palarao Chairman Julianito Villegas.

Villegas reportedly went to the barn owned by his brother Romulo on Sunday morning and punched the latter but missed. He then drew a caliber .45 pistol and pointed it to Romulo which in turn grappled for the possession of the gun and eventually subdued the village chair.

The firearm, a Colt MK IV model bearing serial number 218634 with 5 live bullets and an empty shell of .45 caliber were turned over by Romulo to responding police personnel.