Manila cops arrest Quiapo gun wielders

The Western Police District (WPD), assisted by barangay officials, apprehended yesterday three gun-wielding men who disrupted a press conference and fired several warning shots outside a mosque in Quiapo, Manila last Tuesday.

Superintendent Arthur Paglinawan, WPD-General Assignments Section (GAS) chief, confirmed that Hadji Ali Lucman, Weng Macabato and Hadji Malik-Nanak had been arrested in Quiapo by elements of WPD Station 8.

Paglinawan said charges of alarm and scandal through indiscriminate firing, illegal possession of firearms and illegal discharge of firearms would be lodged against the three men.

"Our WPD Station 8 was supposed to file the case against them earlier, but when we received information that the suspects would surrender, we decided to hold back on the filing and arrest them first," Paglinawan said.

Superintendent Rolando Miranda, WPD Station 8 chief, said they arrested the suspects at around 5:30 p.m. at their respective houses along Palanca street, Quiapo.

Miranda said the three did not resist arrest. No firearms were recovered from the suspects.

" We did not have search warrants so we were not able to enter their house," he said.

The suspects are set to be presented to Manila Mayor Lito Atienza at 10:30 a.m. today.

Atienza had given the WPD 72 hours yesterday to finish their probe to determine whether or not administrative sanctions would be imposed on Barangay Chairman Bae Nurhaina Lucman "for her failure to control her people from disrupting a peaceful conference yesterday."

Lucman’s husband, retired Col. Macacuna Lucman, had assured Atienza of cooperation in apprehending the three suspects.

WPD director Chief Superintendent Pedro Bulaong said he asked the three TV news crews that were threatened by the suspects to give their statements to investigators. The cameramen were also told to submit copies of the video they took of the incident.

Atienza formed a special committee chaired by Secretary to the Mayor Emmanuel Sison to conduct an independent inquiry into the alleged harassment against the mediamen, separate from the WPD probe.

The two parties met at the office of Atienza at 11 a.m. yesterday and immediately a heated confrontation ensued.

Macacuna Lucman denied allegations that a handgun was tucked in his waist. But mediamen claimed their video showing that he had a gun and had attempted to draw the weapon from his waist.

The retired police official asked the media to treat him fairly.

"If you misinterpret me, I am sorry, but that is not my own making. If you cannot give me justice, just shoot me now. If you cannot give me justice, give me death. Give me a chance to explain my side," he said.