THE barangay captain of General Climaco, Toledo City in southwestern Cebu is in police custody after his arrest in the early hours of Tuesday morning, November 29, 2022.

The operation against 43-year-old Richard Dejoras Candilada was led by Major Nazarino Emia, chief of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group Cebu Provincial Field Unit.

Emia was accompanied by members of the Provincial Mobile Force Company and the Toledo City Police Station, among others, during the raid.

Emia was armed with a search warrant issued by Regional Trial Court Branch Anacleto Debalucos in Cebu City on November 24 for violation of Republic Act 10591, or the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act.

They recovered a .45 pistol with a magazine filled with seven bullets and a .357 Magnum with six bullets from inside the house of the accused.

They also found an unlicensed KG9 rifle with 19 live bullets inside the backpack that the barangay captain was carrying.

Police also arrested 41-year-old Alnardo Camenero, who is said to be Candilada’s henchman.

Emia said Candilada had been accused of harassment.

“The barangay captain had warned some residents in the barangay that they wouldn’t last a month,” Emia said in Cebuano.

According to the reports they received, Candilada would order his goons to harass residents he didn’t like.

With him under arrest, Emia said many residents can heave a sigh of relief.

On October 9, the former barangay captain of General Climaco was killed after attending a fiesta celebration in Barangay Bagakay in the same city.

Antonio Yumol Canonigo was shot in the back by a gunman who was later arrested. (GPL/PJB)