STA. MARGARITA, SAMAR, Philippines — A composite police team, tasked to hunt down suspected members of Private Armed Groups operating in Samar’s first district, finally got its hands on one of the target suspects early morning Thursday at Barangay Bahay of this town.
Armed with a search warrant, issued by Judge Alphinor Serrano of Tacloban Regional Trial Court-Branch 6, the police team arrested Enrique Magbutay Mañas, allegedly the leader of Mañas Group, which is in the PNP PAGs Personality List.
The police also arrested Romualdo Casaljay Catalan, alias Romy, a 56-year-old farmer and resident of the same village, who was seen trying to run out from Mañas residence.
The search reportedly yielded a fragmentation grenade, a semi-automatic KG9 rifle, two steel magazines, another steel magazine with black pouch containing 10 live 9mm ammunition, and six live ammunition for .38-caliber pistol.
Catalan, when frisked, also yielded one .38-caliber pistol with four live and one used ammunition.
Media man Rufino Arpon and town Councilor Edison Gara were asked to accompany and oversee the police team in serving the search warrant.
A case for violation of Republic Act 8294 (law governing illegal possession of firearms), was slapped against the Mañas and Catalan, who were brought to the town’s police station for detention. (FREEMAN)