Riding-in-tandem nabbed for illegal drugs, gun, bladed weapon in Tacloban checkpoint

By RPCRD, Police Regional Office 8
February 11, 2013

CAMP KANGLEON, Palo, Leyte – Aside from gun ban violation, two riding-in-tandem suspects were arrested by the police for possessing illegal drugs and bladed weapon in a Comelec checkpoint in Tacloban City on Saturday evening.

“The establishment of Comelec checkpoints are proven effective not only in the implementation of the gun ban but also in the campaign against all forms of illegal activities like dangerous drugs possession,” said Police Chief Superintendent Elmer Ragadio Soria, Regional Director of the Police Regional Office 8.

Soria identified the suspects as Mario Macawile y Abolon, 43, married, of Brgy. 39, Serin District, Tacloban City and his backrider Oscar Macase y Sabenorio, 35, married of Brgy. Pawing, Palo, Leyte.

The two were arrested by a police team led by Police Senior Inspector Noel Mondragon while manning a Comelec checkpoint along the National Highway in Brgy. Diit, Tacloban City at around 10:30 o’ clock Saturday night after confiscating a firearm, bladed weapon and several sachet of suspected methamphetamine hydrochloride or “shabu” from the suspects.

“While our men were manning the checkpoint, the black Yamaha Mio motorcycle driven by Macawile was flagged down for inspection,” Soria informed.

The vehicle was heading towards Tacloban City proper from north direction when the suspects obliged and stopped the motorcycle upon requesting to stop by the police team, the Regional Director said.

When requested, Macawile failed to show his driver’s license but volunteered to present his Official Receipt and Certificate of Registration (OR-CR) which was then placed at the Utility Box. When the driver opened his U-box, police personnel manning the checkpoints saw in plain view a .38 caliber revolver marked Smith and Wesson with serial number 1023453 loaded with 4 live ammunitions and a bladed weapon locally known as “pisaw” measuring 5 ½” long.

The police arrested the two suspects and a search incidental to lawful arrest conducted by the arresting officers resulted in the seizure of 10 heat-sealed plastic sachet of “shabu” and a multivitamins canister with suspected “shabu” residue in the right side pocket of the jacket being worn by Macawile.

Suspects were immediately brought to Tacloban City Police Office for proper disposition as appropriate criminal charges are being prepared against them while the recovered drugs and firearm were brought to the Regional Crime Laboratory 8 for chemical examination.

Soria disclosed that the suspects are the latest addition to the list of individuals nabbed by the police in the region in established Comelec checkpoints for gun ban violation.

Earlier, policemen manning checkpoints were able to arrest a businessman in Calbayog City, a famer in Sta. Rita, Samar and a security guard in Capoocan, Leyte for gun ban violation since the start of the election period last January 13.