Three others arrested:Abra candidate’s husband yields guns, cash to buy votes

 LAGAYAN, Abra – Three firearms, a box of bullets and cash allegedly for vote buying were seized from the husband of a mayoral bet in this town and three companions at a police checkpoint here Wednesday.

Police said the four-vehicle convoy of Isagani Amboa Hoson, 42, husband of mayoral candidate Berna Hoson, was headed toward the capital town of Bangued from Penarubia town, when the group was accosted.

Chief Supt. Roberto Quinto Soriano, deputy regional police director for administration and commander of Regional Special Operations Task Group Abra, who happened to be at the police checkpoint identified the arrested suspects as Marjoviedela Cruz Sibayan, 43, an executive of Spartan Manpower Services Loreto GangeBalucas, 38, farmer, Leonardo Castaneda Parado, 33, farmer and Joson, all residents of Lagayan.

A police report said before their arrest, combined elements of Bangued police and Special Action Force were conducting a checkpoint along the AbraIlocos-Sur road at Ubbog-Lipcan, Bangued midnight of April 30 when they flagged down a red Toyota Lite Ace van bound to the north direction with the suspects on board. 

Police conducted an inspection and saw protruding muzzle of an M16 rifle behind the middle passenger seat.

The occupants were then asked to alight from the vehicle.

A search on the vehicle was conducted in the presence of barangay captain Lourdes Reyes that resulted to confiscation of an M16 baby rifle, A caliber .45 pistol, Cal. 9mm pistol, four magazines and 102 bullets, bullet proof vest; a brown shoulder bag containing P15,000, a PNP handbook for personal security of candidates for elective positions, black wallet containing P100, two  holsters, two Nokia cellular phones and identification cards owned by Isagani Joson.  

Police also found a short magazine and a shoulder bag containing P15,000 and a list of voters suspected to have received money from the group.

Gerardo M. Tagura, assistant provincial prosecutor of Bangued, subjected the suspects to inquest proceedings.

Tagura noted evidence to show respondents allegedly conspired in possession of the confiscated unlicensed firearms and ammunition citing the principle of conspiracy and single criminal intent rule.

A case was filed at Regional Trial Court, Bangued for violation of election gun ban against the suspects April 30, the police report said.

All suspects were incarcerated at the Abra provincial jail on order of executive judge Corpus B. Alzate but later released after posting bail of P100,000 each for a total amount of P400,000.  

Chief Supt. Benjamin B. Magalong, regional police director said an investigation was underway on possible connections of the four suspects to some politicians or criminal groups in the area.