By Jennifer P. Rendon
A village official who has alleged links to the New People’s Army (NPA) and purportedly led a criminal group was arrested in a police search operation in Dueñas, Iloilo morning of March 2, 2021.
A composite police team swooped down on Barangay Captain Joewinny Giganto’s house at Calang village around 5:30 a.m. Tuesday.
Members of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group-Iloilo Field Unit, Dueñas Police Station, and the Regional Mobile Force Battalion’s 602nd Company served Search Warrant No. 20-1983 issued by Judge Domingo Casiple of the Regional Trial Court Branch 68 in P.D Monfort North, Dumangas, Iloilo.
Major Jess Baylon, CIDG-Iloilo field unit chief, said the search was relative to violation of Republic Act 10591 (Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act) and RA 9156 or illegal possession of explosives.
Baylon said the raiding team seized a fragmentation hand grenade, a caliber .45 pistol (serial number 052074), a steel magazine and seven ammunition for caliber .45 pistol, a black outside magazine pouch, and a brown shoulder bag.
In a press statement, the Police Regional Office (PRO)-6 said the 59-year old Giganto is the leader of the “Giganto Group,” a newly-identified criminal group allegedly involved in the proliferation of loose firearms and gunrunning activities in Iloilo and the nearby provinces.
Baylon claimed that Giganto was also involved in the quarry operations in the area and nearby towns.
When asked to expound, Baylon said Giganto allegedly gave a “clear passage” for quarry operators to spare them from rebels.
He did not elaborate if the pass also involved money.
On top of that, PRO-6 identified Giganto as a member-support of the local terrorist group, which refers to the NPA.
His link could have been his brother Ismaelito Giganto alias Bob, a ranking NPA commander, who already died in an encounter with government troops
Giganto was allegedly involved in an attack against Philippine Army troops in Tapaz, Capiz on February 2003 that saw the death of an Army captain, five enlisted soldiers, an NPA commander, and a Civilian Armed Forces Geographical Unit (CAFGU).
“Barangay Captain Giganto admitted his brother being into the NPA. But he claimed that whatever his brother did, he already paid it with his life,” Baylon said.
When the warrant was served against him, Giganto was quoted to have said, “ano nga klase gobyerno ni?”
The suspect is now detained pending the filing of charges for violation of RA 10591 and RA 9516.
