6 suspected members of private armed groups nabbed in Ilocos

MANILA, Philippines - Police arrested six suspected members of private armed groups (PAGs) in simultaneous raids conducted in Ilocos Norte and Ilocos Sur on Wednesday.

Chief Superintendent Ricardo Marquez, Ilocos regional director, identified the arrested suspects as Jar-ar Pambid, Ronnie Icalla, Hanley Ines, Felicito Revilla, Jessie Ermitanio and Joey Sia.

Marquez said a team that raided the houses of Pambid and Icalla in Badoc, Ilocos Norte seized two grenades, a .22 revolver and several live ammunitions and empty shells for short firearms such as .45 pistol, .38 revolver, 9mm and .357 revolver.

Police seized a .45 pistol with six live bullets in the raid conducted on Ines' house in BArangay Teppeng, Sinait, Ilocos Sur.

Seized from the house of Revilla in Nueva Era town in Ilocos Norte, were one Uzi, a .38 revolver and a shotgun with several rounds of ammunition.

The raid at Ermitanio's house, menahwile, yielded .45 pistol, a baby Armalite, a .22 revolver and several ammunition and magazines for different firearms.

Seized from Sia were one hand grenade and an unregistered Black Honda motorcycle.

Marquez said that the suspects, along with the seized firearms and ammunition, have been brought to Camp Juan in Laoag City and in Camp President Quirino in Ilocos Sur.

Charges for violation of illegal possession of firearms and the election gun ban are being prepared against the suspects.