By: Glazyl Y. Masculino
BACOLOD City Charges for violation of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) gun ban and illegal possession of firearms and ammunition were filed before the Negros Occidental Provincial Prosecutors Office here on Wednesday against three alleged security aides of Isabela town Mayor Joselito Malabor.
Charged were Alexander Ferrer, 60, of Barangay 8, Niel Ladrido, of Barangay Tinongan, and Florentino Lopio, of Barangay 9 Poblacion, Police Captain Roger Pama, town police chief said.
Ferrer is a retired soldier while Lupio is a former barangay official.
The charges came after police raided their houses in simultaneous operations through search warrants for violation of Republic Act 10591 or Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act on Tuesday.
Police recovered from Ferrer a sling bag, two .45-caliber pistols with three magazines and 50 pieces of ammunition (one loaded in the chamber), two magazines and 36 pieces of ammunition of Thompson firearm, and 19 pieces of calibre .9mm ammunition.
Authorities also seized from Ladridos house a .45 caiber pistol, four live ammunition, 31 fired bullets, and an empty magazine of the same calibre; 27 fired bullets of caliber .9mm, nine fired bullets of M16 rifle, and a holster for .45-caliber pistol.
Police also recovered from Lopio .45-caliber pistol, and two magazines of the same firearm loaded with six live ammunition.
Authorities also swooped on the house of Dominique Kerr Yanson, 23, of Barangay Libas but authorities did not recover any firearm or ammunition.
Malabor said the raids were politically motivated but they will abide with the law and will post bail for his security aides, Ferrer and Lupio.
In a press briefing at the provincial headquarters in Bacolod City on that day, Police Col. Romeo Baleros, Nocppo director, said the raids were not politically motivated because they were just doing their duties.
Nobody influenced us to implement the search warrants, he added.
