THE Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) - Negros Occidental served an arrest warrant for service of sentence for violation of Commission on Elections gun ban in 2010 against a dismissed policeman at the Hall of Justice in Bacolod City Wednesday, April 3.
The suspect was identified as former Police Master Sergeant Dante Victor Escorpion of Barangay Mambulac, Silay City, a former member of the Bacolod City Police Office.
The arrest warrant with no bail was issued by Judge Ana Celeste Bernad of Regional Trial Court Branch 69 in Silay City on January 21, 2019.
Lieutenent Colonel Luke Vergara, officer-in-charge of CIDG-Negros Occidental, in an interview with Bombo Radyo Bacolod, said they received a call informing them that Escorpion was sighted at the venue, where he was supposed to appear as witness in a court hearing in a case he handled when he was still a police officer.
Upon learning he has a standing arrest warrant, CIDG operatives went to the venue and arrested him.
Escorpion’s case came after he attended a previous hearing at HOJ, armed with a firearm while he was in civilian clothes, Vergara said.
Escorpion must serve 10 years in jail for his offense.
Vergara said Escorpion is an alleged member of a criminal gang listed by Police Regional Office (PRO) Western Visayas.
He is also considered a high-value target and allegedly involved in gun-for-hire.
In 2016, Escorpion was dismissed from the police service for grave misconduct, unlawful behavior and for being willful in character, and planting of evidence upon the order of the Ombudsman.
Meanwhile, Escorpion, when asked for reaction, refused a media interview.
He is under the custody of CIDG Negros Occidental while waiting for his commitment order to be transferred to the custody of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology. (GYM)