By: Glazyl Y. Masculino
Bacolod City – A soldier who was arrested for allegedly carrying a firearm on Labor Day protest on May 1, 2019 was ordered released by the Office of the City Prosecutor in Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental, the following day.
A resolution issued by the prosecutors office deemed as invalid the warrantless arrest of the soldier assigned to the 15th Infantry Battalion (IB) of the Philippine Army.
Police Lt. Col. Jonel Guadalupe, Kabankalan City police chief, confirmed the soldiers release from their custody.
The soldier, whose name was withheld for security reasons, was providing covert security during the Labor Day rally when he was allegedly sighted in possession of a firearm.
He was mobbed by some protesters for the said offense and was brought to the police station, where he reportedly yielded his issued .45 caliber pistol.
The local police was supposed to file violation of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) gun ban against him on Thursday but the prosecutor found no grounds for the case because there was no crime committed when he was turned over to the police through citizens arrest.
Meanwhile, Guadalupe said they cannot yet tell if the soldier will also press charges against some individuals after his cellular phone and necklace went missing in the rally.
