Army files charges vs four gun ban violators

By Gina Dizon

BONTOC, Mountain Province -- Charges for illegal possession of firearms and gun ban violation were filed at the office of the provincial fiscal here against four suspects, allegedly relatives and supporters of Congressman-Elect Maximo Dalog who were arrested May 11 in Barangay Bunot, Paracelis with a cache of firearms aboard three vehicles.

This as concerned nongovernment organizations, church members and concerned residents urged the offices of Chairman Jose Melo of the Commission on Elections, Director General Jesus Versoza of the Philippine National Police, General Delfin Bangit of the Philippine Army, National Bureau of Investigation, Department of Justice, and the Commission on Human Rights to investigate the arrest and release of those involved in the incident citing attention to the confiscated Bushmaster Cal. 5.56 allegedly owned by Dalog and a 92 FS Pietro Beretta cal 9mm accordingly issued to police Insp. Dexter Mariano Paredes.

Brent Focasan, Philippine National Police provincial legal officer said the Philippine Army filed charges against the accused on May 20.

Suspects Mariano Yawan, 38; Fangkingan Hewan, 27, Florizel Miing, 27 and Paredes were reportedly nabbed at Sitio Ampekla, Bunot on May 11 by Army personnel but were released on May 13 due to non-filing of appropriate charges by the PNP within prescribed time of 36 hours following their arrest.

This, due to non-release of affidavits of arrest by arresting officers of the Charlie Company of the 54th Infantry Batallion.

With this development, witnesses were reportedly surprised to know that one of the sons of Dalog who was allegedly seen riding in one of the confiscated cars loading the guns was not included among those charged.

According to the Paracelis PNP spot report, six firearms were caught loaded in three vehicles -- Mitsubishi Pajero, Toyota Hi Lux and Strada Pickup driven by the three apprehended men.

One of the guns confiscated, a high powered rifle 556 Colt is reportedly registered under Mountain Province Congressman-Elect Maximo B. Dalog as shown in a certification from the Firearms and Explosives Division of the National Police Commission.

Another confiscated gun, a Cal 9 mm Beretta as certified by Napolcom was reportedly issued to Insp. Paredes and a shotgun 12GA Armscor registered with Vanguard Watchman Agency Inc.

In Camp Crame, Bong Durana, senior executive assistant to PNP Director General Jesus Verzosa, in an interview, said in relation to the case, the PNP adheres to its mandate and call for non-partisanship among police personnel in elections of the country.

“The PNP makes sure that the ax will fall against personnel involved in partisan politics, even those who may be found culpable after an investigation,” Durana said regarding the Paracelis case.