P N P News Release No. 04-0505 |
POLICE ARREST ARMED MEN IN ANTIPOLO Police arrested 15 armed men at a checkpoint in Antipolo City during election day. Reports reaching the PNP Central Operations Center in Camp Crame from Rizal PNP Director, Senior Superintendent Leocadio Santiago Jr., disclosed that the arrested persons were in a convoy of three vehicles intercepted at 4:30PM at the corner of Olalia Drive and Sumulong Highway by elements of the 418th Provincial Mobile Group. On board the vehicles were five PNP and one AFP personnel, and nine civilians who were in possession of high-powered firearms. Arrested and held for investigation were: Chief Insp Danilo LUBATON, reportedly assigned with PDEA-3; SPO2 Florencio RAMOS, SPO1 Mario QUIAMBAO, SPO1 Alfredo BENITO, PO2 Luisito ANINAS, Sgt. Edgar VILLANUEVA, Dioscoro PALAGANI, Herminigildo TRECENIO, Wilson OCAMPO, Mariano MENDIOLA, Jonathan ALCANTARA, Pablito BELTRAN, Ben PARADO, Sandy SABANAL, and Abraham SAMSON. Confiscated from their possession were: Three (3) M16 rifles, One (1) UZI machine pistol, Two (2) cal.45 pistols, Four (4) Beretta 9mm pistols, and Two (2) cal. 38 revolvers, One Nissan Patrol color maroon XBV-725, white Mitsubishi Delica van XBY-591, and a silver-gray Toyota Hi-Ace van SFX-673. Those arrested are now undergoing investigation at the Antipolo City Police Station for alleged violation of PD 1866 and the Omnibus Election Code. Also during election day yesterday, PNP operatives arrested a local mayoral candidate and three followers in San Manuel, Tarlac for possession for high-powered firearms. As of today, the PNP has already accounted for 1,480 unauthorized firearms, and arrested 1,858 violators of the gunban imposed by Comelec in connection with the May 10 synchronized elections. Most of the confiscated firearms were seized in Comelec-PNP checkpoints, and during guncheck operations. A total of 616 cases have been filed in court against the violators, while 854 other cases are still under investigation. The strict implementation of the gunban, and other security measures have been acknowledged as among the factors that resulted in the relatively peaceful conduct of the May 2004 elections.
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