THREE men, including an aide of a congressman, were arrested just two hours after the election gun ban took effect on Sunday, Jan. 13.
A man who claimed to be working as a security escort of Rep. Benhur Salimbangon (Cebu, 4th) was arrested in Barangay Agujo, Daanbantayan during a police checkpoint at 12:30 a.m. on Sunday dawn.
Police identified the suspect as Richard Lepar Monsanto, a resident of Barangay Curva, Medellin town.
Chief Insp. William Homoc, the newly appointed chief of the Daanbantayan Police Station, said Monsanto reportedly came from the Kandaya Resort and was driving home on his motorcycle when he encountered a police checkpoint.
Homoc said Monsanto attempted to avoid the checkpoint by turning back but was stopped by police officers.
Upon inspection, operatives found a .45 caliber pistol tucked in Monsanto’s waistband.
When police asked him why he was carrying a gun when the election gun ban was already in effect, Monsanto identified himself as Salimbangon’s escort.
Monsanto also failed to present a permit that allows him to carry his pistol outside his residence.
His motorcycle was also confiscated because it did not have a plate.
“He (Monsanto) claimed that he forgot to leave his pistol in his office. We are now investigating if he is indeed a security escort of Salimbangon and if he is licensed to carry a pistol,” Homoc told Superbalita Cebu.
Another person was arrested for carrying a firearm and illegal drugs at a police checkpoint in Barangay Centro in Mandaue City.
Simpliceo Tampus Dela Cerna, 35, a resident of Sitio Ibabao, Barangay Agus in Lapu-Lapu City, was caught carrying a .38 revolver and one medium pack and 30 small packs of suspected shabu.
In Cebu City, a 28-year-old man was also arrested at a police checkpoint on M. Velez St. in Barangay Guadalupe at around 2 a.m. on Sunday, Jan. 13.
Police recovered a homemade .22 caliber pistol and a small pack of shabu from Junrey Celis, a resident of Barangay Luz.
The three men will face charges for violation of the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Law in relation to the election gun ban.
Dela Cerna and Celis will also be charged for illegal drug possession. (FROM HBL & FMD OF SUPERBALITA CEBU/JKV)