By Jennifer P. Rendon
A village official was arrested following a firearm raid on his house in Barotac Nuevo, Iloilo late afternoon of May 28, 2021.
But Barangay Captain Jose Marlon Lobaton, 46, of Cruz, Barotac Nuevo, did not spend a minute in detention after he complained of chest pain.
Operatives of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG)-Iloilo Field Unit rushed Lobaton to the nearest hospital for treatment.
He was later transferred to Iloilo Provincial Hospital in Pototan where he remains in confinement.
The operation happened around 5:30 p.m. of Friday when members of the CIDG, together with Barotac Nuevo Police Station, swooped down on Lobaton’s house.
The team served Search Warrant No. 21-207 issued by Judge Domingo Casiple Jr. of the Regional Trial Court Branch 68 in P.D Monfort North, Dumangas, Iloilo on May 28, 2021.
Recovered from Lobaton’s house was a caliber .45 pistol (serial no. EAU35542) with one magazine loaded with nine ammunition.
Major Jess Baylon, CIDG-Iloilo field unit chief, said they already booked Lobaton’s arrest at Barotac Nuevo Police Station when he complained of chest pain.
“We were navigating Barangay Pagdugue, Dumangas when he claimed to have chest pain and difficulty of breathing,” he said.
The team was supposed to bring him to the Iloilo Provincial Prosecutors Office for inquest proceeding.
Baylon said they opened the vehicle’s window to give Lobaton better ventilation, but it did not alleviate his condition.
Baylon said they had no choice but to rush him to the nearest hospital.
Lobaton’s attending physician later issued a certification to the police that he was on hospital confinement.
Baylon said an inquest case for violation of Republic Act 10591 (Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act) was still filed against him. But he is expected to post bail today, May 31.
According to Baylon, the suspect had also been arrested for a firearm-related case in 2005 but they had no idea what happened to the case.
Baylon said there was no complaint against Lobaton but records of the PNP Regional Civil Security Unit 6 (RCSU-6) showed that he failed to renew his gun license.
“He’s been subjected to Oplan Katok by the local police,” Baylon said.
But Lobaton did not renew his firearm license or temporarily surrender his gun to local authorities for safekeeping, thus the raid on his house.
