NAGA City -- Suspected private armed group members are facing charges of illegal possession of firearms, ammunition and bladed weapons and violation of the Comelec gun ban before the City Prosecutor’s Office here.
Naga City police spokesman SPO2 Randy Solano told newsmen on Wednesday that a bail of Php140,000 cash has been recommended for each of the eight security personnel facing the charges, Solano said.
According to Solano, it is the first time within the election period that security personnel of a politician were apprehended for possession of assorted firearms.
Solano said the respondents were armed escorts of Gov. Luis Raymund Villafuerte. He said those charged have no permit to carry outside of residence and no election exemption documents.
Seized from the suspects were 3 cal. .45 pistols, a 9mm pistol, a cal. .38 revolver, a Baby Armalite assault rifle, assorted ammunition, bladed weapons, an ice-pick, fan-knife, a rifle bayonet and a brass knuckle attached to an automatic blade.
Reportedly, all the weapons were found inside a Suzuki van (SHE-693) driven by Grege Arejola Salcedo, 24.
The City Police Office earlier reported that the suspects were arrested by City Police Safety Company head Supt. Allan Olea Ramos at the Crown Hotel in the city after a concerned citizen reported their presence at the hotel lobby midnight of Monday.
When querried, the suspects identified themselves as security aide of the governor. They were Peter Ignao Cruzata, 48, a retired Marines technical sergeant, from Sto. Domingo, Iriga City; former Army Cpl. Eduardo Fermales Magdaraog, 52, of Northern Samar; Dennis Andalis De Leon, 42, retired Marine staff sergeant; Vicente Barra Pabit Jr., 40, of Sigamot, Libmanan; and retired Army T/Sgt. Paterio Sanchu Culata, 50, of Northern Samar.
Other security personnel arrested by the police were Provincial Guard-1 Elias Cerillo Clavillas, 49, of Concepcion, Naga City; Teejay Destura Rodriguez, 21, of San Roque, Bula, CamSur, and driver of the vehicle, Grege Salcedo.