A PUBLIC school principal and a municipal employee will be facing criminal charges over alleged possession of illegal firearms in Northern Samar Thursday, January 28, 2021.
Nestor Balando Ada, 55, and principal of Rosario National High School, was arrested around 12:30 a.m. Thursday in Barangay Commonwealth, Rosario, Northern Samar.
Police confiscated during the operation a Colt Defender series 80 caliber .45 marked CBP, one short steel magazine assembly, four live ammunition for caliber .45 inside the magazine and a hand grenade.
The arrest was made by a composite team from Northern Samar Police Provincial Office (NSPPO), led by provincial director Colonel Arnel Apud, Major Eddie Esidera of Provincial Intelligence Unit, Major Anthony Din of Provincial Investigation and Detection Management Unit, Major Edwin Oloan Jr. of 1st Provincial Mobile Force Company, Major Deogracias Diaz III of PIT-CIDG, Lieutenant Von Lagmay of Regional Intelligence Unit, and Rosario Municipal Police Station personnel led by Lieutenant Ma. Edlyn Encina, officer-in-charge.
In Victoria, Northern Samar, police arrested 44-year-old Norman Estuye Mandrilla, municipal employee, and a resident of the said town.
Operating units from Victoria Municipal Police Station led by officer-in-charge Captain Jim Balase, together with 1st NSPMFC led by Lieutenant Sherwin Aldrin Portajada, arrested the suspect around 5:30 p.m. Thursday in Barangay Colab-og, Victoria.
Police confiscated from the suspect’s possession and control one lower receiver of long firearm of unknown caliber and one complete set of barrel, chamber and bolt of a long firearm with defaced serial number of unknown caliber.
Lieutenant Colonel Ma. Bella Rentuaya, police regional spokesperson, said the arrests stemmed from the search warrants issued by the courts.
The search and inventory of confiscated pieces of evidence were also made in the presence of barangay representatives, police said in the report.
The suspects will be facing charges for violation of Republic Act 10591, otherwise known as the “Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act.” (SunStar Philippines)