Village councilman caught carrying gun

CEBU, Philippines – Police arrested a barangay councilman of barangay Cambinocot, Cebu City who is running for barangay captain in the October 25 elections for gun possession.

Edmund Garces, 32, married, and temporarily living in Palm Heights Subdivision in barangay Tabok, Mandaue City was arrested by the IDMB operatives led by C/Insp. Oscar Monterroyo.

PO2 Raniel Cartin of IDMB said Garces was driving his car inside the subdivision when the car allegedly sideswiped a group of men led by Jovanne Babon, 27, on the roadside. The men were drinking after winning that day the basketball league championship in their area.

Cartin said Babon had thought it was intentional. One of the men in the group hurled a pitcher at the car, Cartin said.

Garces, with two others, got off from the car, and pointed a .45 cal. pistol at the men.

The sight of a gun must have frightened the men so that they fled and as they fled, Garces allegedly fired at them but hitting no one.

Garces and his group later left the area but a few minutes later Garces returned to the area to look for his cellular phone which he thought he had dropped it there.

But C/Insp. Monterroyo's team and barangay captain Dario Tariman were at the scene. Garces surrendered his firearm to them and was taken to the MCPO.

Cartin said Garces' car will also be searched after the police learned from Babon's group that Garces' companions had guns tucked in their waists at the time of the alleged shooting.

Garces is presently detained at the Basak Police station.

Garces showed a license for the gun but had nothing to show that would prove he was exempted from the Comelec gun ban. (FREEMAN)