Laguna village chief nabbed for guns, ammo

MANILA, Philippines — The president of the Association of Barangay Captains (ABC) in Bay town in Laguna was arrested on Monday after assorted guns and ammunition were allegedly recovered during a raid on his house.

Angelito de Mesa was apprehended by operatives of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group at his residence in Barangay Masaya.

The raid was based on a search warrant issued by Lucena Regional Trial Court Judge Agripino Bravo dated March 17.

A caliber 5.56mm rifle, an M16 rifle, a 9mm pistol, a caliber .45 pistol and assorted bullets were reportedly recovered from De Mesa.

He faces charges for illegal possession of firearms and ammunition.

The Commission on Elections had earlier said it is working with the police and military in preparation for the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections this October.

The poll body said it expects the barangay and SK elections to be more heated compared to the national polls last year.

Meanwhile, in Abra, Armando Wilson, chairman of Barangay Boliney in Dumagas town, who was tagged in the killing of a high school teacher in September last year, surrendered on Monday.

Wilson is the brains in the killing of Rudy Sayen, according to four other suspects who had been arrested.

The suspects – Sonny Boy Tullas, Aldrin Alagaoa, Abelardo Talape and the alleged gunman, Romel Paa – said Wilson paid them P100,000 to kill Sayen.

Sayen was shot on his way to the Suyo National High School.

Police said Wilson was ranked second on the list of most wanted persons in the Cordillera Administrative Region.