2 assassins jailed; PNP, Comelec set Abra secu

By Pamela Mariz Geminiano

BANGUED, Abra -- The Abra Provincial Police Office will reactivate the “Abra Shield” special group within the PPO to implement security plans as the Commission on Elections is considering the province's inclusion in the 2019 poll area of concern list.

 “Abra Shield' will be tasked to conduct strategic anti-criminality operations, and neutralize criminal groups carrying loose firearms during the election period in the province,” said Police Senior Supt. Caesar Tannagan, Abra Provincial director, in an interview on Thursday.

Cordillera police earlier nabbed two alleged members of a gun-for-hire group during a raid on a house in Abra, seizing several firearms and ammunition.

Police Regional Office Cordillera regional director, Chief Supt. Rolando Nana, identified the suspects as Jeremy Navarette Pinera and Oliver Virgo Sotelo. Both are now in jail.

In a telephone interview, Nana said the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group personnel in Cordillera served the search warrant at Pinera's house in Barangay Arab, Pidigan town in Abra on Jan. 9.

 The two suspects reportedly belong to the “Jeremy” group which is involved in gun-for-hire activities and gun running activities in Abra, Nana said.

 Authorities seized from the two men several firearms and ammunition including a hand grenade, a caliber .22 revolver without serial number, a .38-caliber revolver without serial number, eight live ammunition for caliber .22 revolver, and one improvised caliber 5.56-millimeter pistol.

 Nana said the two suspects are now facing charges for illegal possession firearms and explosives raps.

 In an earlier interview, Nana said they are closely monitoring the possible resurgence of three private armed groups in Abra province -- one of the areas of concern in the region.

Last week, a shooting incident was reported in Lagayan town between two political groups in Abra which Nana said, is being investigated.

Meanwhile, Abra Shield was formed several years ago and reactivated every poll season as a special team that maintains security, and peace and order in the province through special operations on strategic anti-criminality, neutralization of criminal groups and confiscation of loose firearms during the election period.

The special PNP group will also be tasked to conduct checkpoints in the whole province.

During the Joint Regional Security Coordinating Council meeting on Jan. 10 in Baguio, Comelec Cordillera Regional Director Julius Torres said they are considering to include Abra as an area of concern.

"Although the election is very dynamic, we are not discounting the fact that Abra can still be included as an area of concern, but we still need further assessment,” he said.

Last week, a shooting incident was reported in Lagayan between two political groups which prompted the provincial police to deploy a mobile force company to secure the five barangays of the municipality.

 "The situation in Lagayan town is manageable, I was already able to talk to both parties, and I am acknowledging the recommendation of the AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines)," he said.

“We are doing a lot of preparations for the midterm elections in Abra," Tannagan said.

The provincial director said they will also facilitate the signing of covenants or manifesto among political parties to have a peaceful and orderly conduct of 2019 midterm elections. -- PNA