Abra mayor, 2 aides face gun ban raps

La Trinidad, Benguet, Philippines - – The mayor of Baay-Licuan town in Abra and two of his bodyguards found themselves facing charges after two pistols were found in their possession when accosted in a checkpoint in the capital town of Bangued.

Mayor Alejo Siddayao Domingo, 63, and his bodyguards, Noel Culangen Bay-ed, 32, and Eddie Boy Balweg Paredes, 30, yielded a .45-caliber Federal pistol with a magazine loaded with six bullets, and a .45-caliber Norinco pistol with a magazine loaded with four bullets.

Senior Superintendent Benjamin Lusad, Abra police director, said Domingo admitted owning the guns but failed to present any papers showing his exemption from the gun ban being enforced in connection with the barangay polls.