Madridejos Police nab "law enforcers" for having guns

Eight men who turned over to the Madridejos Police two commercial fishing vessels they said they apprehended off the Tangige islet, near Bantayan Island, were also arrested for possession of guns and ammunitions.

The armed men said they belong to the Asean Anti-Communist League in the Philippines-Malacañan Active Combat Forces, and their group commander was a certain Oscar Torres, the identity of whom is being checked now by the police.

The group, headed by Moises Batain, of barangay Tamiao in Bantayan, turned over to the police the apprehended vessels: F/B Balberhope, owned by a certain Edwin Cornel of Cadiz City in Negros Occidental, and F/B AC5, allegedly owned by a certain Alex Chiong.

They also turned over the arrested boat captains, Antonio Giltendez of F/B Balberhope, and Marcelino Placencia of F/B AC5.

The police however found Batain in possession of a .45 caliber pistol and his apprehending group with several firearms and ammunitions, including two .357 caliber revolvers, two .45mm pistol, and an improvised shotgun.

Madridejos Police acting chief, SPO4 Condrado Pabillon, said the police had to arrest Batain and his group members, and confiscated from them the firearms, after they failed to present documents that exempt them from the Comelec gun ban.

Batain's other companions were Brian Moncal, Alexander Carbajosa and Bernabe Legaspi of Bayawan City in Negros Oriental, Ebyn Canuguran of Carambayan in the same province, Carmelo Moreno of Cabangcalan in Negros Occidental, Florentino Ayaay of Bacolod City, and Roldan Condiz of Sillon in Bantayan Island.

Police chief Pabillon immediately informed Cebu Police Provincial director, Sr. Supt. Carmelo Valmoria, Intelligence Bureau chief, Supt. Juanito Enguerra, and former CPPO director, Sr. Supt. Vicente Loot about the arrest of the Batain group.

Enguerra said Pabillon was then ordered to hold the group while the police verify the documents that Batain showed that they are law enforcers conducting operations in the area.

The group might be charged only with violation of the Comelec gun ban only but, Enguerra said, that it might be indicted also for usurpation of authority and illegal possession of firearms.

Pabillon added that the police have checked also the identity of Torres, the alleged commander of the their group, Asean Anti-Communist League in the Philippines-Malacañang Active Combat Forces. - Gregg M. Rubio/RAE