Nine armed men of politicians nabbed in Abra operations

By Dexter A. See

BANGUED, Abra — Nine alleged goons of politicians were arrested separately last week at a police checkpoint in Tineg and a safehouse in Bucay, this province.

In Sitio Nagbalitangan, Barangay Bangbangkag in Bucay, Task Force Abra nabbed two armed bodyguards of a congressional candidate night of May 2.

The raid of the house yielded three long homemade firearms, including a 12-gauge shotgun, and assorted ammunition.

Senior Supt. Elmer Soria, Task Force Abra commander, identified them as Marcelino Anagaran and Jason Alvis.

In Barangay Alaoa, Tineg, Abra, seven persons, including two minors, also alleged members of a private armed group (PAG) were arrested after their military truck was halted at a checkpoint night of May 1.

The suspects, who introduced themselves as “people of mayoral bet Cromwell Luna,” yielded six long and short firearms.

Senior Supt. Ernesto Gaab, Abra provincial police director, identified five of them as George Taguinod, 38, married, the truck driver, who is an incumbent municipal councilor of Lagayan town; Sonny Boy Bingay, 27, a native of San Juan, Abra; Wilfredo Bersamira, 32, of Pulot, Lagayan; and Ludring Silbao, 30, and Jemnick Pasigen, 19, both of Pangot, Lagayan.

Gaab did not disclose names of the other two natives of Tineg who are aged 16 and 17.
Confiscated from the group were two M-16 rifles, two rifle grenades, a baby Armalite, and a .45-caliber pistol.