Cops neutralize three Ilocos private armies

By Freddie G. Lazaro

VIGAN CITY — Ilocos region police director Chief Supt. Constante Azares Jr. reported three of the 12 known partisan armed groups operating in the region have been neutralized.

Azares identified these as the Peralta and Balloguing groups operating in Pangasinan province and the Gamboa group operating in Dingras, Ilocos Norte.

The Peralta and the Balloguing groups were among the five PAGs or private armies identified and operating in Pangasinan especially during election time.

It was reported that other PAGs in the province are located in the towns of Bolinao, San Manuel, Infanta, Balungao and San Nicolas.

As to the implementation of the gun ban ordered by the Comission on Elections, Azares said 96 individuals were already arrested.

As of press time, Pangasinan province has the biggest number of arrested gun ban violators with 47, while La Union has 30 persons, 10 from Ilocos Norte and nine from Ilocos Sur.

A total of 62 firearms were seized while 667 gun replicas were confiscated since the election period and the implementation of Comelec Resolution 8714 or the so-called total gun ban started in January this year.

Of the 62 firearms confiscated, 33 were from Pangasinan, 12 from La Union, 10 from Ilocos Norte and 7 from Ilocos Sur.

Azares ordered the strengthening of checkpoints in the four provinces in the region to control the proliferation of loose firearms and to deter the possible eruption of violence that might be perpetrated by the PAGs or armed groups in the forthcoming May 10, 2010 polls.