By LITO RULONA
and NITZ ARANCON,
Correspondents
Operatives of Cagayan de Oro City Police Office – Lumbia Police Station have arrested two barangay officials from Misamis Oriental after they were spotted bringing high-powered firearms, explosives, and ammunition in Barangay Tuburan, this city Tuesday afternoon.
Lumbia police station commander Senior Insp. Dennis Ebsolo identified the barangay officials as Epimaco “Bongkoy” Saca-lon, barangay chairman of Barangay Kauyunan, Opol and Barangay councilor Michael Talampas.
“Illegal possession of firearms and explosive ang among i-file nga kaso against sa duha ka suspect. Bahala na ang prosecutors unsa nga kaso ang ilang i-file sa court,” Ebsolo told Gold Star Daily.
Both were arrested by members of the City Public Safety Company headed by Senior Insp. Glenn Abalde under the command of Supt. Allan Palomo together with Lumbia police station personnel during their motorcycle patrol operations at Barangay Tuburan.
Ebsolo said they were seen by the police in plain view possessing M79 grenade launcher with 11 40mm live explosives and .45 caliber pistol Colts M1911 with six live ammos, two steel magazines (1 short and 1 long cal. 45). All confiscated items were found to have no pertinent documents.
“We conducted a regular motorcycle patrol in the hinterland barangays mao nga nakita kini namo sila. Walay dokumento na-presentar si Sacalon ug Talampas hinungdang gibalhog sila sa Maharlika Detention Center,” he said.
He said the motorcycle patrol operations in the hinterland villages in the city are done almost everyday as part of their crime prevention program and to counter the reported presence of armed groups in the area.
“We were (supposed to be) going to Barangay Tumpagon which is the last hinterland barangay but when we reached Barangay Tuburan we spotted the suspects in a motorcycle. Ato gilayon sila nga gi-call and (asked) for pertinent documents for the high-powered firearms they were bringing in the area,” said Ebsolo.
He said during the search, the suspects failed to show pertinent identification cards to prove they were local barangay officials which also prompted the local police operatives to secure and arrest them on the spot.
“We only confirmed that they were local barangay officials after we got confirmation notice from (the) Opol local government unit. Naa pud mga kaila nga mi-anha sa among presinto nga nag-confirm that they were local barangay officials from Barangay Kauyunan. But such confirmation would not prevent us to file appropriate charges against them,” he added.
Both Sacalon and Talampas refused to comment on their arrest. However, Sacalon said they owned such kinds of firearms to protect themselves from the reported armed group or suspected members of the New People’s Army roaming in the area.
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