It's your weekly compendium of foolishness and corruption in the Philippine government.
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| https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1851358/dismissed-cop-nabbed-in-qc-for-hurting-detainee-15-years-ago |
Authorities have arrested a dismissed police officer in Quezon City for injuring a detainee 15 years ago.
The Philippine National Police-Integrity Monitoring and Enforcement Group (PNP-IMEG) said in a statement Thursday that former police lieutenant Mario Pascual was arrested on October 24 along Diamono St., Barangay Tatalon.
His arrest was made possible through an arrest warrant dated September 25, 2020. Quezon City Metropolitan Trial Court Branch 138 Presiding Judge Kristine Grace Suarez issued the warrant of arrest and set the bail at P2,000.
According to PNP-IMEG Director Brig. Gen. Warren de Leon, Pascual was accused of inflicting injuries to a detainee under police custody for an undisclosed offense 15 years ago. The PNP-IMEG also said that Pascual was dismissed from service only last year.
Pascual was detained at the PNP-IMEG Headquarters Custodial Facility in Camp Cram, Quezon City, pending his presentation before the court that issued the warrant for his arrest.
A cop wanted for hurting a detainee 15 years ago has been arrested. The warrant was signed in 2020 and he was dismissed from service last year.
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| https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1851466/cop-in-pasay-shooting-surrenders-to-ncrpo |
An active member of the Philippine National Police (PNP) involved in a shooting of the brother of his live-in partner in Pasay City surrendered to authorities on Thursday, according to the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO).
In a report, the NCRPO said Staff Sergeant Ruel Lacuesta, an active member of PNP who currently serves at the Regional Personnel Holding Admin Section and undergoing mandatory Public Safety Junior Leadership Course, turned himself in around 10 a.m. to its office.
According to police, the shooting occurred around 1 a.m. on the same day along Don Carlos Village, Barangay 190, Zone 20, after Lacuesta and his live-in partner or complainant, Given Teves, got into a heated argument.
The suspect’s live-in partner dodged the bullet, but her brother Ramon Teves got shot in the chest instead.
After Lacuesta surrendered, authorities brought him to Pasay City Police Station for investigation, where he underwent paraffin and ballistic examination.
Police said Lacuesta will face complaints of murder and attempted murder and violation of the Republic Act (RA) 9262 (Violence Against Women and Children), and RA 10591 concerning RA 76166 (Omnibus Election Code).
A cop who murdered his live-in partner's brother has been arrested.
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| https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1851657/raps-filed-vs-cop-11-others-over-attack-on-village-bets-in-cotabato |
Multiple murder and double frustrated murder complaints have been filed against a police officer, a candidate for village chief, and 10 others for Monday night’s killing of three people posting campaign materials for the October 30 elections.
Cotabato City Police Station 1 Chief Capt. Jemu Ramolete said people named on the complaint sheet were Juhalidin Ladesla Abdul, alias “Boyong,” candidate for chairperson of Barangay Rosary Heights 12; Police M/Sgt. Pauti Dianal Mamalapat of Maguindanao del Sur police; and their 10 relatives, many from Guindulungan, Maguindanao del Sur, for involvement in the attack that killed Nur Muktadin Butucan, Alffar Ayunan Pasawilan, and Faizal Abas.
The complaints against them were filed before the city prosecutor’s office here on Wednesday, October 25.
Butucan and Pasawilan were candidates for village council seats, the former in Rosary Heights 12 while the latter in Kalanganan 2. Abas was a supporter of Pasawilan.
Saipol Sapalon and Fayed Daud, both from Kalanganan 2, were injured during the incident.All victims were displaying campaign posters when they were shot at around 9:30 p.m. on Monday.
In a hot pursuit operation, the police, backed by Marines soldiers, held for questioning Abdul, Mamalapat, and 10 others, and were later established to be suspects in the crime after authorities seized an M-16 rifle, two hand guns, and ammunition from them.
A cop involved in the killing of a candidate for village chief has been arrested.
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| https://mb.com.ph/2023/10/27/dpwh-clerk-pleads-guilty-to-lesser-offenses-in-ghost-repairs-of-vehicles-gets-lighter-penalties |
A clerk at the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) pleaded guilty to lesser offenses, instead of graft and estafa through falsification of public documents, and was sentenced to one year imprisonment in 20 cases and three months and 11 days jail term in 20 other cases involving ghost repairs of vehicles in 2001.
The Sandiganbayan also disqualified clerk Edgar V. Agbunag from holding public office for life and ordered to pay DPWH P494,500.
Agbunag was one of the DPWH officials and personnel charged in the ghost repairs of vehicles. He and the other accused were charged with falsifying 20 job order requests and disbursement vouchers. The prosecution said the accused made it appear that the DPWH vehicles underwent repairs and replacement of spare parts although no such jobs were done.
Last April 14, Agbunag pleaded not guilty when arraigned on his graft and estafa through falsification of public documents. He then manifested during the pre-trial that he would enter into a plea bargaining agreement which is a process of pleading guilty to a lesser offense for a lesser penalty.
During the Sept. 27 hearing, the Office of the Special Prosecutor confirmed the approval by the Office of the Ombudsman of the plea bargaining proposal of Agbunag.
Instead of graft, he pleaded guilty to a lesser offense of violation of the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees; and simple estafa instead of estafa through falsification of public documents.
"The motion of accused Agbunag to withdraw his earlier plea of not guilty in all charges filed against him, to be able to plead guilty to a lesser offense, is thus granted," the Sandiganbayan said.
"The mitigating circumstance of the plea of guilty will be appreciated in favor of the accused as the change of plea was made prior to the presentation of evidence by the prosecution," it said.
A DPWH clerk has pleaded guilty to lesser charges over ghost repairs of vehicles.
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| https://mb.com.ph/2023/10/27/cop-sacked-for-viral-traffic-altercation-with-truck-driver-helper |
A police officer was relieved after he was involved in a traffic altercation with a truck driver and his helper that went viral on social media on Thursday afternoon, October 26, on the Maharlika Highway in Barangay Rizal, this town.
The police officer was identified as Police Chief Master Sgt. Reynan Luminario, assigned to the Gumaca Municipal Police Station.
Luminario, who was recently awarded the Medalya ng Papuri by the Quezon Police Provincial Office for the successful conduct of a manhunt operation that resulted in the arrest of two suspects in a robbery incident here, was not wearing a police uniform when the incident happened.
The truck driver and his helper were unidentified.
Investigation said Luminario temporarily parked his Toyota Grandia van in a “No Parking Zone” in front of a convenience store to purchase something.
Luminario’s vehicle impeded traffic, prompting the truck driver to blow his vehicle’s horn several times.
The police officer noticed the situation and returned to his van, resulting in a heated altercation among the truck driver, helper, and Luminario.
The incident was recorded in a video and circulated on social media. In the video, the helper was holding a metal rod while bystanders, Non-Uniformed Personnel Febie Torculas, and a traffic enforcer pacified them.
Luminario slapped the back of the head of the helper and the driver and the helper left the area.
The relief order against Luminario was effective October 26 and he was reassigned to the Regional Holding and Accounting Section (RPHAS) of the Police Regional Office 4-A in Camp Vicente Lim, Canlubang, Calamba City, Laguna.
Luminario is undergoing investigation by the Quezon Police Provincial Office.
A cop involved in a traffic alteration has been reassigned and is under investigation.
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| https://mb.com.ph/2023/10/27/kagawad-shot-by-gunmen-in-quezon |
A barangay kagawad running for chairman in the upcoming elections was injured after being shot by unidentified assailants in Gen. Luna, Quezon on Thursday night, Oct. 26.
A report reaching Camp Crame identified the victim as Ruben Ilagan, 63, a kagawad and resident of Barangay Malaya where he is also a candidate for barangay chairman.
Police investigation showed that Ilagan had just finished attending a meeting near the barangay hall around 9:20 p.m. when the two suspects approached and shot him point blank.
The suspects then fled on foot after the incident.
Ilagan sustained four gunshot wounds on the right chest, police said.
He was rushed to Magsaysay Hospital in Lopez, Quezon and transferred to Rakkk Prophet Medical Center, Inc. in Gumaca town for further medical treatment.
An investigation was launched by the police to identify the suspects behind the incident and determine if it was related to the nearing Oct. 30 polls.
A barangay kagawad running for chairman has been assassinated.
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| https://mb.com.ph/2023/10/29/ilocos-sur-village-chair-daughter-wounded-in-broad-daylight-shooting |
A barangay captain and ex-officio member of the municipal council and his daughter were shot and wounded in Barangay Butol here on Saturday afternoon, October 28.
Police identified the victims as Ruben Elefante, 50, chairman of Barangay Gabao and president of the municipal Association of Barangay Chairpersons (ABC) and running for kagawad or councilor in the barangay elections on Monday, October 30, and his daughter, Rubiemae, 21, student.
Investigation said the Elefantes were onboard a tricycle when an man flagged and shot them.
Ruben sustained a bullet wound in the face and Rubiemae in the wrist. They were taken to a hospital in Candon City, this province.
Police are looking at politics as reason for the shooting as Ruben’s wife is running for chairman in the elections
A barangay captain has been wounded in a shooting.
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| https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1852443/cop-surrenders-after-car-collides-with-motorcylce-driven-by-med-student |
A police officer surrendered to authorities a few hours after his car collided with a motorcycle being driven by a medical student on the Cebu South Coastal Road (CSCR) in Talisay City, Cebu on Sunday, Oct. 29.
Erno Kevin Lisondra, a 33-year-old member of the Aviation Security Group assigned on Panglao Island, Bohol, voluntarily appeared before the Talisay Traffic Office a few hours after hitting Samuel Villanueva, a native of Taguig City and a medical student here in Cebu.
According to Jonathan Tumulak, chief of the City of Talisay Traffic Operations and Development Authority (CT-TODA), the policeman admitted he decided to leave the victim for fear of being accosted by the public.“Lisondra claimed that he fled because he was afraid of the bystanders. So, before reporting to his unit, he left the scene and surrendered himself officially,” Tumulak said.
Lisondra’s vehicle collided with the motorcycle driven by Villanueva at around 3:45 a.m. on Sunday.
Lisondra said Villanueva was driving a motorcycle at a high speed, but Tumulak said the police officer was also at fault.“Based on our CCTV footage, he [Lisondra] committed an infraction. He was in the outer lane. He just suddenly crossed when he reached the intersection. If you’re making a U-turn, you should be in the inner lane, and he was in the outer lane,” Tumulak explained.
Villanueva was reportedly in critical condition in a hospital, according to Tumulak.
A cop who was at fault for hitting a motorcycle has turned himself in .
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| https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1852771/2-olongapo-village-execs-suspended-for-falsified-documents |
The city council suspended for three months two members of the village council of Barangay Old Cabalan after they reportedly falsified public and official documents.
A 5-page resolution of the city council obtained by the Inquirer on Oct. 21 said it suspended village Councilors Rolando Alba and Gerardo Andrade for falsifying the minutes of the session for the deliberation of the village’s 2022 annual budget.
The complaint was filed by Cabalan Barangay Captain Lester Nadong, who accused Alba and Andrade of the offense.Nadong said the alleged falsification of the minutes of meeting took place when he was suspended from November to December 2021 and when Alba took over as the acting village chief.
Nadong said he found out about the falsified documents when he returned to his post and after discovering that there was no session held for the deliberation of the 2022 annual budget.
He said Alba and Andrade conspired to falsify the minutes of the meeting and convinced Nadong’s secretary to ask some of the other village councilors to sign the document.This forced Nadong to file the complaint with the city council, which found Alba and Adrade guilty of the offense, suspending them for three months.
According to the city council, the minutes of the session were “totally falsified” after the accused affixed their signatures and some of their fellow councilors.
The council noted that the document was signed “despite the fact that they (village councilors) did not hold a session on the said date.”
Alba is running for barangay captain, while Andrade is seeking reelection despite the three-month suspension. Both were not immediately available for comment.
Two members of an Olongapo village have been suspended for three months for falsifying documents.
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| https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1212782 |
A candidate for village chair in Lanao del Sur was shot dead by his rival brother following an altercation inside the voting precinct in Butig, Lanao del Sur, on Monday morning.Lanao del Sur police provincial director, Col. Robert Daculan, identified the victim as Madid Bao, a candidate for village chairman of Barangay Poktan.Madid, who was running for the village's top post against his brother, Jamael, is the husband of the incumbent and last-termer village chairperson Conaipa Bao.Madid died while being transported to the Amai Pakpak Medical Center in Marawi City following the 7 a.m. shooting.Initial investigation showed that Jamael was inside the voting precinct in Barangay Poktan when Madid arrived and confronted the latter about his presence in the area.A heated argument ensued, with Jamael complaining that his brother had a .45-caliber pistol.Police said Madid hit Jamael in the head using his pistol, causing a scuffle that ended with Madid being shot in the chest.Relatives and supporters rushed Madid to the hospital while Jamael tried to flee but was immediately cornered by authorities, police said.Meanwhile, in nearby Bayabao Central School, also in Butig, Lanao del Sur, two voters were shot dead by still unidentified gunmen before 7 a.m.Police are still investigating the incident.
A man running for village chair was shot dead by his brother who was also running for the same position.
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| https://mb.com.ph/2023/10/30/village-chair-5-others-shot-in-basilan |
A barangay chairman and five others were wounded in a shooting incident during the barangay elections in Barangay Lahi-Lahi, Tuburan, Basilan on Monday, October 30.
The village official was identified as Ibrahim Atang of Barangay Lahi-Lahi. The other victims were reportedly relatives of Atang.Basilan police chief Police Col. Carlos Madronio said the incident occurred outside a polling precinct before the start of voting where the suspects, one of them an active member of the Philippine Coast Guard, ran amuck.
Voters in nearby Barangay Sinulatan, Tuburan panicked after gunshots were heard during voting at the Sinulatan Elementary School.
The commotion was said to have been started by supporters of rival candidates.
Soldiers from the 101st Brigade and personnel from the Tuburan Municipal Police Station responded to the incident to pacify them.
Both incidents are under investigation.
A barangay chairman and five others were wounded in a shooting incident.
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| https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1852575/maguindanao-del-norte-shooting-kills-2-injures-3-on-2023-bske-day |
Two voters were killed while three others were wounded in a Maguindanao del Norte shooting on Monday morning, police said.
Brigadier General Allan Nobleza, regional director of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao’s police office, said the shooting occurred in Datu Sinsuat town’s Barangay Bugawas at around 6:00 a.m.
“May isa lang hong insidente kaninang umaga, six o’clock in the morning, the shooting incident in Barangay Bugawas, Datu Sinsuat, Maguindanao del Norte wherein two victims, dalawang biktima ang namatay at tatlo ‘yung wounded,” Nobleza said over radio dwPM.
(The lone shooting at six o’clock in the morning in Barangay Bugawas, Datu Sinsuat, Maguindanao del Norte left two dead and three wounded.)
Asked if the incident is related to the ongoing Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Election or BSKE, Nobleza said: “Opo sir, kasi po boboto ‘yung mga victims na ito nang mangyari ang pamamaril.”
(Yes, sir, because these victims were going to vote when the shooting happened.)
Nobleza said the police identified the suspects, and a pursuit operation is underway.
2 voters were killed and three others were wounded in a shooting.
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| https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1852739/group-disrupts-voting-destroys-ballots-in-puerto-princesa-palawan |
A group of disruptors destroyed election ballots in voting precincts in Puerto Princesa, Palawan during the village and youth elections on Monday.
Commission on Elections chairman George Erwin Garcia confirmed the incident occurred in two precincts in Puerto Princesa Pilot Elementary School.
A number of people entered the precincts and then ripped the election ballots, according to Garcia.
The Comelec chair said the persons who performed these actions were arrested and are now detained.
A group of people destroyed ballots in Puerto Princesa.
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| https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1853213/19-died-244-violent-incidents-occurred-during-bgy-sk-elections-says-comelec |
Nineteen people were confirmed to have been killed in the last three days or since August 28, amid the barangay and sangguniang kabataan elections (BSKE).
Commission on Elections (Comelec) gave the figure on Tuesday based on data from the Philippine National Police.
The period also covers today, October 31, says the poll body.The majority, or 11, of the killings, were recorded in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (Barmm), where a total of 13 election-related incidents took place.
Thirty (30) persons fell victim to crimes in Barmm.
Fourteen (14) of them were injured, while five were not physically unharmed, but they suffered other types of trauma.Suspects in the 12 of 13 offenses were arrested.
Meanwhile, police in Bicol and Central Visayas listed two deaths in each region.
Ilocos, Calabarzon, Zamboanga Peninsula and Cordillera Administrative Region documented one fatality each.
Comelec chair George Garcia also said PNP logged a sum of 244 incidents of violence.
29 of the reports are related to the elections.
111 are “suspected” to be connected to the polls.
Meanwhile, 104 of the cases have nothing to do with BSKE.
The COMELEC has logged 19 murders and 244 violent incidents during the election season.
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| https://mb.com.ph/2023/10/31/reelected-village-chair-in-iloilo-survives-gun-attack |
A reelected barangay captain, his wife, and poll watchers survived a gun attack by a losing candidate in the barangay elections in Lambunao, Iloilo on Monday, October 30.
Police Major Jogen Suegay, Lambunao police chief, said the incident occurred around 11:50 p.m.
Suegay, in a phone interview on Tuesday, October 31, said the attack against Barangay Captain Renato Lasado Lebuna of Barangay Pajo by Dioscoro “Utay” Lozada Jr. happened after Lebuana was proclaimed winner in the elections.
A second-termer, Lebuna was on board his Isuzu Crosswind with his wife and dropping off his poll watchers to their homes when Lozada appeared and fired at the victim’s vehicle.
Police recovered seven .45 caliber pistol slugs.
Suegay said Lebuana and his poll watchers were unhurt but the village official’s wife sustained a minor injury and was taken to the nearest hospital.
Lozada who escaped after the shooting overwhelmingly lost to Lebuana.
More than 1,100 votes were cast and Lebuna garnered more than 800 with Lozada only managing more than 180 votes.
Lebuna is reportedly set to file criminal charges against Lozada for attempting to murder him.
A re-elected barangay captain survived an assassination attempt byu his rival.
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| https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2023/10/31/2307837/governor-13-mayors-face-vote-buying-probe |
A governor and 13 mayors from Luzon are being investigated for alleged vote-buying activities in connection with yesterday’s barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections (BSKE).
Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairman George Garcia said the poll body is “investigating one governor and 13 mayors because (the reported vote-buying incidents) were conducted right inside their houses and premises.”
The Comelec chief stressed that local government officials should not interfere with the BSKE.
“We have reminded them (LGU officials) to not interfere with the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections because, if they do, it would only create problems in the election,” he said.
Garcia said the Comelec, upon receiving reports of vote buying, immediately deployed election officers to investigate. Several of these reports turned out to be “fake news.”
According to Commissioner Ernest Maceda, the Comelec received “a total of 168 reports of vote-buying,” with 28 cases of that number filed prior to the elections.
Maceda said the 168 vote-buying reports is much lower compared to the over 1,200 complaints received during the May 2022 elections.
As of yesterday, he said the Comelec was preparing the filing of vote-buying charges against 46 BSKE candidates, adding that 94 complaints are still being evaluated and remain pending for resolution.
A governor and 13 mayors are being investigated for vote buying.
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| https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1853606/elected-councilman-in-cotabato-province-slain-in-gun-attack |
A newly elected village councilman in Midsayap, Cotabato was shot dead by a cousin after a heated argument on Wednesday morning.
Lieutenant Colonel John Miridel Calinga, Midsayap town police chief, identified the victim as Suharto Antilino, newly proclaimed “Barangay Kagawad” of Poblacion 3.
Citing the accounts of relatives and other witnesses, Calinga said the unidentified gunman was the cousin of the 35-year-old Antilino.He said the shooting occurred about 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday near the barangay hall.
“Witnesses revealed that there was an argument between Antilino and his cousin before the shooting,” Calinga said in a radio interview.
Calinga said relatives overheard his cousin as telling Antilino “don’t be like that, my cousin,’ in the Maguindanao dialect.Some witnesses said Antilino ran but was chased by the gunman, who then opened fire, hitting him in the head.
He was pronounced dead on arrival at a local hospital.
Responding police found an empty shell for a .45 pistol at the crime scene.
Calinga said the shooting was not election-related but more of a “personal grudge” involving the victim and the attacker.
A newly elected councilman has been killed.
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| https://www.philstar.com/nation/2023/11/01/2308219/barangay-chairman-2-cohorts-deadly-basilan-ambush-surrender |
A barangay chairman and his two accomplices in the gun attack on Monday night in Lamitan City, Basilan that left two elders of a rival who contested his reelection bid dead surrendered to authorities Wednesday.
Abdullah Panglias, who lost in his reelection bid for the chairmanship of Barangay Balagtasan in Lamitan City, and his followers, Abzhar Panglias and a volunteer community watchman named Jhulbin Suntul, are now clamped down in a police detention facility.
Brig. Gen. Allan Nobleza, director of the Police Regional Office-Bangsamoro Autonomous Region, told reporters here on Wednesday that Panglias and his companions voluntarily surrendered to Brig. Gen. Alvin Luzon, commander of the Army’s 101st Infantry Brigade and Lamitan City’s police chief, Lt. Col. Arlan L. Delumpines.
The three suspects first turned in assorted firearms and ammunition as they arrived at the headquarters of the 101st Infantry Brigade in Isabela City and, subsequently, confessed to their role in the ambush late Monday of Unnang Alahas and Sagon Jailun in Barangay Balagtasan while the duo was on their way home from a polling site in a nearby area.
The slain Alahas and Jailun were both uncles of Arjun Jailun, a rival of the reelectionist Panglias in last Monday’s barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections. They were both defeated by a newcomer, a lowly tricycle driver, according to officials of the multi-sector Lamitan City Peace and Order Council and officials of the local police.
Nobleza said the three suspects yielded peacefully through the intercession of Luzon, Delumpines, local executives in Lamitan City led by Mayor Roderick Furigay and Basilan Gov. Jim Salliman and senior officials of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front in the province.
A barangay chairman and his two accomplices who attacked his rival have been arrested.
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| https://mb.com.ph/2023/11/2/gun-toting-military-major-nabbed-on-all-saints-day |
An Armed Forces officer with the rank of major was arrested for poking a gun to a bystander in a cemetery here on All Saints’ Day.
The Pangasinan Provincial Police Office identified the suspect as Major Leo Badua Luzano, 39, a resident of this town.
Investigation said the suspect sought the assistance of bystanders to enter the cemetery in Barangay Poblaction East.
Luzano allegedly suspect forced a bystander, Jerry Sagun Dalip, to board a vehicle. Dalip ignored the suspect who was drunk.
The suspect drew and pointed his gun at Dalip’s head, resulting in a commotion.
Lawmen noticed the disturbance and nabbed Luzano who yielded his service firearm, bullets and four magazines, and driver’s license.
He was taken into custody after he failed to present pertinent documents for his firearm and permit to carry from the Commission on Elections.
Luzano faces charges for violating the election gun ban disobedience to persons of authority.
A Major in the AFP has been arrested on election gun ban charges.
