Suspected armed group member nabbed in Misamis Oriental

AN ALLEGED member of a potential private armed group (PAG) operating in Misamis Oriental province has been arrested; while the number of election gun ban violators continues to rise, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said Thursday.

The police identified the arrested person as Exequil Aniscal alias "Michael Manzano," a suspected member of the Alferez Organized Crime Group.

Aniscal, who was arrested due to a joint manhunt operation of the authorities, is now detained at the Balingasag Police Station for filing of appropriate charges in court.

Among those recovered from his possession were two caliber .45 pistols and a caliber .357 revolver.

Misamis Oriental, where the Alferez Organized Crime Group is believed to be operating, is not included in the PNP's list of 15 "high-risk areas" for the 2013 elections.

But its neighboring province, Misamis Occidental, is among the said 15 areas where poll-related violence could erupt due to presence of PAGs and proliferation of loose firearms, among others.

The PNP is currently implementing the poll gun ban which aims to ensure security this election period. As of Thursday morning, a total of 1,069 violators have been arrested, 970 of whom are civilians.

The arrested violators also include six military, 13 PNP, and one fire bureau personnel; 14 government officials, 62 security guards, and two militiamen.

A total of 1,041 firearms have been confiscated along with 30 gun replicas, 272 bladed weapons, 46 grenades, 195 other explosives, and 5,296 pieces of ammunition.

According to the PNP, there are 60 active PAGs with 838 members and 47 potential PAGs with 637 members as of October 2012. (Emmanuel Louis Bacani/Sunnex)