MANDAUE City police arrested a former chief of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (Pdea) 7 K9 Unit for allegedly showing his gun when he entered the Mandaue City Central School to vote yesterday.
Carlito Ermac was met by the members of the Mandaue City Police Office headed by Senior Supt. Jonathan Cabal after he cast his vote past 4:30 p.m. yesterday.
They recovered a 9mm caliber pistol loaded with 18 live ammunitions from him.
When Ermac entered the school driving his car, Jemar Pasco, a security guard of the school, approached him to ask if he was with a senior citizen or a persons with disability.
Pasco said only cars with senior citizen or PWD passengers were allowed to enter the voting center.
“Ako siyang giingnan nga bawal ang sakyanan kon way senior citizen. Iya kong gipakita sa iyang ID, gisaka sad niya iyang armas (He showed me his gun),” he said.
“Nakuyawan ko (I was scared), “ Pasco said.
He said it was his colleagues who asked for police assistance when he shared what he saw.
PO1 Teresito Germaine Ligan, who was within the area, said they responded to the school after they received a report of an armed man.
Ermac, who was brought to the MCPO, showed an exemption for the Commission on election gun ban issued by Pdea 7, a firearm possession license which expired last Oct. 2, 2016, and a copy of a certificate to own and possess of firearms which will expire in April 2017.
His exemption for two pistols and one rifle expired in February last year.
“Wala man koy bayolenteng gihimo, igo ra ko mibotar (I had no violent intentions, I just wanted to vote),” he said.
He said he peacefully submitted himself to the police to prevent any commotion in the area.
Supt. Melbert Esguerra, head of MCPO’s Investigation Detective Management Branch, said Ermac will face violation of the Comelec gun ban and illegal possession of firearms.
The suspect was detained at the Police Station 1.
Esguerra said the exemption on gun ban will only apply if Ermac was performing his duty.
Police also arrested a 39-year-old man in Barangay Looc for violation of the liquor ban and for punching a 17-year-old girl. Deveneser Llenes was reportedly drunk when he punched Teresa Casas, 17 on the chest.
He was arrested and detained pending charges to be filed against him.
Meanwhile, 4 persons carrying guns were arrested at a checkpoint in San Fernando, Cebu yesterday.
They were arrested along the National Highway of Barangay South Poblacion at 2 a.m.
They were identified as Mark Zapanta Genterone, 30,of Maigang Barili, Cebu; Leonard Joseph Zapanta Alicaway, 20, of Sandayang, Guadalupe Cebu City; Leecille Flores Vergara, 20, of Sta. Ana Barili Cebu; and Joan Batersal Blanco, 34, of Gemena St. Poblacion, Barili Cebu.
Seized from them were a machine gun and bullets. Vaña Ferre Comendador Abella/USJ-R Intern