Ex-newsman in arrest of mayor, nabbed for guns

By Alvin Murcia

MAPANDAN, Pangasinan -- Operatives from the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) arrested here a former correspondent of a daily broadsheet for illegal possession of firearms during a raid conducted in his two-story house.
    The suspect, identified as Jaime Aquino, was nabbed following implementation of search warrant by Judge Rusty M. Naya of branch 51 Tayug, Pangsinan Regional Trial Court.
    Authorities discovered one piece of cal. 45 (SN: 770001), eight pieces live ammunition and two hand grenade.
    Aquino and the illegal firearms were brought by the NBI-National Capital Region.
    The search warrant was issued by Executive Judge Naya after the applicant satisfied the requirement that Aquino was in possession of firearms and ammunition of different calibre in his two-story house located here at Caimito Extension Road, Barangay Aserda.
    This is not the first time that the former correspondent was involved in a controversy.
    Previously, an incumbent municipal councilor of Lopez town in Quezon province disclosed a supposed group led by Aquino was targeting Quezon province Gov. Danilo Suarez and his family.
    Lopez municipal councilor Arkie Manuel Yulde — who was recently incarcerated for six months on trumped up charges of kidnapping, rape and serious illegal detention — said that he was also a victim of the group.
    Three cases of rape and kidnapping were filed by Aquino’s group against Yulde before the Pasig, Quezon City and Pangasinan courts.
    Yulde was released last Feb. 9, 2022 when the fiscals handling his cases were replaced as per the order of the Department of Justice as investigation showed evidence submitted in court were all fake that included the complainant and medical certificate in connection with the rape case.
    The councilor added Aquino and his cohorts were allegedly planning to file trumped up cases against Suarez and his family as part of their grand plan to derail the political plan of their group in the May 9, 2022 elections.