Police readies gun ban raps vs soldier

By: Glazyl Masculino

CHARGES for violation of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) gun ban will be filed against a soldier who was allegedly caught in possession of a firearm during the Labor Day protest in Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental on May 1.

Police Lieutenant Colonel Jonel Guadalupe, city police chief, refused to name the soldier pending the filing of the charges.

Guadalupe said the accused is a member of the 15th Infantry Battalion (IB) of the Philippine Army.

The Army soldier was reportedly rendering covert security during the rally when some protesters saw him carrying a firearm, Guadalupe said.

The protesters then mobbed the soldier before he was turned over to the custody of the policemen.

Police recovered from the soldier a .45-caliber pistol.

While the gun is said to be issued by the government, the soldier failed to show documents proving he is exempted from the Comelec gun ban.

He was wearing civilian clothes when he was caught carrying a firearm, the city police chief said.

Guadalupe said the military usually coordinates with them regarding security but some intelligence officers also have separate orders from their respective units.

Meanwhile, Guadalupe said the soldier is planning to file a complaint against some protesters after his cellular phone and necklace went missing when he was mobbed.

The soldier is detained at Kabankalan City Police Station.