Party-list nominee held for guns, explosives

BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya, Philippines – The fourth nominee of Anakpawis party-list was arrested in this town on Friday night.

Isabelo Adviento, 57, was apprehended in front of a fastfood restaurant by joint teams of the police regional and provincial intelligence units, Army soldiers and Bayombong police personnel based on warrants for illegal possession of firearms and explosives, according to Maj. Jesus Ventura, Bayombong police chief.

Judge Pablo Agustin of the Regional Trial Court Branch 10 in Tuguegarao City issued the warrants.

Reports said firearms, ammunition and explosives were recovered at the house of Adviento in Barangay Carrupian in Baggao, Cagayan on Dec. 2, 2020.

Adviento’s supporters claimed the guns, ammunition and explosives seized from his house were “planted” and that the party-list nominee was not around during the police operation.

The group called for the release of Adviento, who is the president of the Danggayan-Cagayan Valley and Anakpawis regional coordinator.

Adviento is a known leader of the Regional White Area Committee  of the  Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army in Cagayan Valley, according to the military.