By: Jennifer P. Rendon
Five persons were arrested in Iloilo province after they were caught brandishing firearms in two separate incidents
Three of the suspects were identified as George Papelera, 46; Danny Lebuna, 25; and Randy Lebuna, 36, all residents of Barangay Cabatangan, Lambunao town.
The others were Lyle Van Maravilla, 45, of Jaro, Iloilo City, and John Julroy Talibang, of Barangay Manhayang, Sta. Barbara, Iloilo.
Members of the Philippine Army’s 61st Infantry Battalion arrested Papelera, Danny, and Randy while patrolling the mountainous village of Cabatangan around 4:00 p.m. of Nov. 11, 2019.
They suspects with a long-barrelled 12-gauge shotgun with one magazine loaded with five bullets, a beak-type 12-gauge shotgun with an ammunition, and two air guns.
Police Major Jogen Suegay, Lambunao police chief, said the three suspects claimed they were hunting for animals when the soldiers arrested them.
He confirmed that the three had no police records for misdemeanor in Lambunao.
Meanwhile, Maravilla, a quarry operator, and his employee Talibang were arrested 11 a.m. of Nov. 12 at a quarry site in Barangay Lampaya, Calinog town.
Police Major Jose Nemias Pamplona, Calinog police chief, said the two suspects were collared following a complaint lodged by a certain Casimira Zerrudo, a caretaker of a land in Lampaya.
Immediately prior to the two suspects’ arrest, Zerrudo went to Lampaya to check on the property she was tasked to look after.
But a confrontation occurred where the two suspects allegedly ordered Zerrudo to vacate the property.
She claimed that they threatened to shoot here.
Zerrudo went to the police station to have her complaint booked.
Pamplona said policemen immediately responded to the area and caught the two gun-wielding suspects.
The two suspects yielded a caliber .9mm machine pistol with two magazines, a magazine and 24 ammunition for caliber .45 pistol, 107 ammunition for caliber .9mm pistol, a monoscope, two bullet-proof vests, two handheld radios, a jungle knife, a caliber .22 revolver with 10 ammunition pieces.
The suspects are now detained and will be charged for violation of Republic Act 10591 (Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act).
