By Dexter A. See and Gina P. Dizon
BONTOC, Mountain Province -- Three suspects arrested in remote Paracelis town for possession of a cache of firearms loaded in three vehicles were released here Thursday due to non-filing of charges within legal prescribed time.
The suspects were nabbed for alleged violation of the gun ban in Barangay Bunot, Paracelis town.
Released by the Philippine National Police in Bontoc, were Fangkiwan Hewan, 28; Mariano Yawan, 38; and Florizel Mi-ing, 27 all from this capital town.
In Camp Dangwa, Benguet, police authorities ordered an investigation on alleged muddling of the police blotter which reportedly resulted in the removal of the names of two sons of a politician in Mountain Province who were allegedly earlier nabbed with the three suspects for illegal possession of firearms and violation of the gun ban last Tuesday.
Chief Supt. Villamor Bumanglag, regional director of the Police Regional Office in the Cordillera, said there was need to verify allegations some officials of the Paracelis municipal station were responsible in removing the names of the two sons of the politician in the list of persons arrested in a military checkpoint for reportedly carrying unlicensed firearms.
According to him, the military based in Paracelis were the ones who conducted the checkpoint and apprehended the drivers and crew of three vehicles that were found to be loaded with six high-powered firearms and assorted ammunitions.
Bumanglag said it was the military who arrested the gun ban violators and subsequently brought them to the Paracelis municipal police station for the blotter entry report.
Right after the alleged burning of the precinct count optical scan (PCOS) machine used during the elections in Addag and Apales, Bonot, Paracelis, Mountain Province, a flash alarm was issued to all law enforcers in the town for three vehicles that were in a convoy.
After several minutes, elements of the Charlie Company of the 54th Infantry Battalion led by Lt. Alvin Dagondon were able to intercept a Mitsubishi Pajero, a Toyota HiLux and a Strada pickup where the suspects were on board and allegedly yielded the seized firearms.
What is puzzling the local residents is that several individuals reportedly witnessed the incident but despite this, names of the sons of the politicians were not included in the police blotter.
The three suspects, along with the sons of the politician, were reportedly apprehended by elements of Charlie Company, 54th IB of the Philippine Army led by Lt Alvin Dagondon at Sitio Ampecla of Bunot.
The apprehended suspects were released two days after their arrest on May 11.
Brent Focasan, legal officer of Philippine National Police of Mountain Province said arresting officers of the Philippine Army did not issue any affidavit of arrest, which prevented the PNP from filing charges
The non-issuance of an affidavit of arrest from the arresting officers 36 hours after the suspects were nabbed caused their release.
Otherwise, arresting officers could have been charged for arbitrary arrest due to non- filing of the proper case after the prescribed time, Focasan said.
Focasan said those released shall be charged accordingly following the submission of affidavit of arrest by the Army who assured Focasan they shall release said affidavit upon advice from their legal counsel.
In this event, the case shall pursue with the issuance of subpoena and warrant of arrest following the release of the suspects.
The suspects were reportedly driving three convoy cars carrying six firearms and ammunition when arrested by troopers May 11, as noted in said spot report issued by the Philippine National Police in Paracelis.
A separate interview by Radyo ng Bayan with Sangguniang Bayan candidate Mike Assud who hails from Bunot said men of a politician were reportedly arrested in the said incident on May 11.
Said police report noted the confiscation of the following firearms from apprehended suspects: one Bushmaster Cal. 223-5.56 loaded with ammunition confiscated from a Pajero vehicle driven by Mi-ing; 9mm pistol Puerto Beretta, Model 92 FS, one Armscor shotgun rifle, and baby Armalite rifle all with ammunition placed in a Toyota Hilux driven by Hewan and KG9 Springfield Super 38 loaded with ammunition in a black Pajero driven by Yawan.
It was learned that the impounded vehicles and confiscated firearms were placed under custody of the Army.
In a similar offense noted in separate incidents, four persons were apprehended by composite team from the Philippine Army headed by Supt Miguel Tagtag Jr on May 9.
Arrested were Danny Balcanao, 27, following gunfire heard at vicinity of Palitud Elementary School; Joel Lapasen, 27, for possessing a Cal. 38 in Barangay Butigue; Ruben Cato, 46, for possession of a Cal. 38 revolver in Palitud and Felixberto Kenept,40, for possession of Cal. 45 pistol at Asiga, Bananao.
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