Abra mayor's guard nabbed for firing gun

BANGUED, Abra -- A drunken bodyguard of the town mayor here was arrested March 29 for indiscriminately firing his gun.

Senior Supt. Alexander Pumecha, Cordillera police intelligence chief said they are preparing violation of the gun ban charges against Bubot Ybañez, who yielded a 9mm caliber Pietro automatic pistol.

Pumecha said Ybañez is a bodyguard of Mayor Do-minic Valera, of Bangued, the capital town of Abra.

He said Ybañez fired his gun five times in the air in Gallera, Barangay Agtangao in Bangued town at about 10:10 p.m.

Angry residents summoned elements of the Special Action Force, the fighting unit of the Philippine National Police, who were patrolling the area and have Ybañez arrested.

Ybañez was still reeking of liquor when cornered by SAF contingents inside a Delica van (RAV 384). He did not resist arrest.

The PNP has been implementing the gun ban since the start of the election period on Jan. 10.
As of March 25, a total of 1,634 persons were arrested for violation of the gun ban.