THREE security aides of Isabela town Mayor Joselito Malabor were arrested Tuesday morning, May 7, in a simultaneous raid conducted jointly by operatives of various police units in the province.
Various firearms and ammunition were also recovered by the authorities in the said raid.
Police identified those arrested as Alexander Ferrer, a resident of Barangay 8; Niel Ladrido, a resident of Barangay Tinongan, and Florentino Lopio, a resident of Barangay 9 of the town.
Malabor said the house of Councilor Dominique Kerr Yanson, SK federation president, located in Barangay Libas was also raided but authorities did not recover any firearm from his possession.
He added that the three arrested were his close-in bodyguards, identifying Ferrer as a retired soldier and husband of the barangay captain and Lupio as a former barangay kagawad.
The mayor said he believes the raid was politically motivated.
He added the recovered firearms were already in the possession of Isabela Municipal Police Station.
Malabor questioned the timing of the operation and said he will provide legal support to his arrested aides.
The three arrested, meanwhile, said they are ready to show the pertinent documents of the recovered firearms and prove to police that they are legitimate gun owners and not part of any private armed groups.
Police report said the joint elements of Police Intelligence Section of the Negros Occidental Provincial Police Office, First Negros Occidental Provincial Mobile Force Company and the Isabela Police Station simultaneously implemented and served the search warrants issued and signed by Hon. Judge Mila D. Yap Acting Executive Judge RTC-6th Judicial Region, La Carlota City with a validity period from May 3 to May 13, 2019 for Violation of Republic Act 10591 against above-named suspects.
Recovered from Fernandez were one unit caliber .45 pistol; two magazines for .45 caliber pistol; 16 ammunition for .45 caliber; One ammo for .45 caliber loaded in its chamber; One unit .45 caliber pistol without serial number; One magazine for .45 caliber pistol; Seven ammunitions for .45 caliber; two magazines for Thompson; 36 ammunitions for Thompson; One Ammo box; 26 ammunitions for .45 caliber and 19 ammunitions for 9mm caliber.
Recovered from Ladrido were 1 Unit Cal. 45 pistol; 4 Cal. 45 live ammunition;31 pcs Cal. 45 empty shell; 27 pcs 9mm empty shell ;9 pcs M16 empty shell; 1 pc Cal. 45 empty magazine; 1 pc Cal. 45 inside holster.
Authorities recovered from Lopio 1 Unit Cal 45 pistol (Armscor) with SN 1408792; 2 magazines of Cal 45 loaded with 6 live ammos each for Cal 45 pistol ; 1 FA License with control number 1-B 1081294 issued last October 6, 2012 with expiry date last October 12, 2016.
The police report said that subject persons were informed the nature of their arrest and their constitutional right best known to their dialect and have been put under the custody of Isabela police station for proper disposition.