No charges to be filed: Guns, bullets seized from 2 mayoralty bets

By Erwin G. Beleo

CAMP FLORENDO, La Union – Joint operatives found high-powered guns and ammunitions from two mayoralty candidates in Marcos, Ilocos Norte in separate implementation of search warrants on Tuesday. 

Reports reaching this Camp showed that the police found at least nine assorted firearms such as shotguns, long rifles and a .45 caliber pistol from the home of re-electionist Mayor Salvado Pillos of the Lakas-NUCD.

“Except for two firearms which bore minor discrepancies, all guns were licensed. Mayor Pillos has agreed to deposit those not covered by proper licenses to the Marcos police station,” said Senior Supt. Gerardo Ratuita, Ilocos Norte police director.

Ilocos Norte policemen and elements of the Regional Intelligence Division here also found a licensed 9mm pistol and two magazines for a .45 caliber pistol from the house of mayoralty candidate Arsenio Agustin who is running under the Nationalista Party ticket of Gov. Imee Marcos.

Ratuita said police took Agustin’s gun for further verification because its license is under the name of his nephew Rodolfo Lobo Agustin.

He said no charges will be filed against the candidates.

The police had placed Marcos an area of concern for the May elections following the murder of mayoralty candidate Alfred Arce and the failed assassination attempt on Pillos. Both incidents took place separately in February.