Camp Bado Dangwa, Benguet -- Three individuals were arrested by the police for violation of illegal drugs and Commission on Elections gun ban on April 1.

Combined operatives of Banaue Municipal Police Station and members of the 1504th Coy, Regional Maneuver Force Battalion-15 arrested two individuals for transporting illegal drugs in a checkpoint at Sitio Mt. Polis in the afternoon of April 1.

Arrested suspects were identified as Dave Archer Canlas Tiozon, 20, and Xeus Marquez Dela Cruz, both residents of Quezon City.

Tiozon and Dela Cruz were onboard a CODA line bus bound to Cubao, Quezon City when the police flagged down the bus and arrested them after, marijuana leaves were found in their possession.

Confiscated evidence were 11 bags of dried marijuana leaves wrapped in transparent cellophanes weighing eight kilograms worth P96,000.

Meanwhile, a suspect in the shooting of a barangay kagawad was arrested in a follow-up operation at Barangay Poblacion, Lagangilang, Abra in the night of the same date.

During the investigation, victim Jay Echave Villamor, 46, barangay kagawad and a resident of Poblacion, Lagangilang, together with his companion were walking along an alley when they were shot by the suspect identified as Narciso Hermoso Lopez, 36, also from Poblacion.

However, the victim managed to run while the suspect escaped.

Lagangilang police immediately conducted manhunt operation that led to the arrest of Lopez. Recovered from his possession was a GA 12 pistolized homemade “Paltik” containing one (1) fired shell and two (2) live ammunition.

It was also revealed that motive of the suspect is believed to be old grudge against the victim and drunkenness.

Lopez is now facing charges for violation of Omnibus Election Code (Election Gun Ban) filed by the police in court. (SunStar Baguio)