Claveria mayor's ma, brother nabbed for guns and ammo

MISAMIS ORIENTAL. Claveria Mayor Meraluna Abrogar. (Photo from Abrogar's Facebook account)
MISAMIS ORIENTAL. Claveria Mayor Meraluna Abrogar. (Photo from Abrogar's Facebook account)

AUTHORITIES arrested the mother and brother of Claveria, Misamis Oriental Mayor Meraluna Abrogar and eight others for alleged illegal possession of guns in a raid conducted in Purok 2, Centro, Claveria town, early Tuesday, May 28.

Arrested were Abrogar's mother, Gertrudes Salvaleon, 66, and her brother, Reggan Salvaleon, 36, as well as Mario Pagara, 49, and Christopher Pagara, 39, who served as the family's security personnel.

The four were subjects of the court order.

Also arrested were six members of the Civilian Active Auxiliary (CAA) identified as Joselito Cabaluna, 29, of Tipolohon; Richie Taquin, 39, of Malagana; Ramie Bacala, 40, of Malagana; Ricardo Sumilla, 60, of Aposkahoy; Ernesto Ayumon, 33, of Poblacion; and Roger Cailing, 49, of Malagana.

Armed with search warrants, members of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) in Misamis Oriental, military and Claveria town police stormed the suspects' houses and seized short and long firearms and several ammunition.

The search warrants for illegal possession of firearms (Republic Act 10591) and illegal possession of explosives (Republic Act 9516) were issued by a local court of Gingoog City on May 20.

Authorities seized three caliber .45 pistols, two M14 rifle, four M16 rifle, a KG9 submachine gun and more than a thousand live bullets for different calibers.

The Salvaleon's and Pagara's will face illegal possession of guns charges and Commission on Elections un ban, while the other six CAAs will be turned over to the army's 58th Infantry Battalion with their government issued firearms and ammunition.

Abrogar, however, denied in a radio interview that the confiscated firearms were owned by her mother and brother.

The reelected mayor said the operation did not bother the family because she maintained those guns were owned by the members of CAA.

"Dili na amo ang mga armas ug wala sa panimalay namo nakuha ang armas kundili naa sa Cafgu. Sige ko remind sa akong igsoon sa akong ginikanan nga dili kita magbaton og armas," Abrogar said.

"Wala kami mabalaka kay nahibalo kami sa balaod. Ug walay problema kani sa amo kay ingon ana man gyud ang proseso sa balaod ang importante masabtan sad ang among mga rason," she added.

Abrogar cited a family feud with a certain Dodot Kawasan, who has been causing trouble not only to her family but to other residents in their village.

The mayor said Kawasan has been threatening her and her family for some time. She also said Kawasan may have a hand in the operation.

"Naa mi mga hulga sa kinabuhi tungod niining Dodot Kawasan. Pila nami katuig diha karon pami kabati og kahadlok busa dili mi mabalaka aning sa CIDG operation kay dili mi guilty apan nalipay mi nga nissurrender nani siya," Abrogar said. (Alwen Saliring)

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