CAMP GERONIMO MONTES, Bontoc, Mountain Province – A suspect in the burning of a PCOS machine in Paracelis during the May 2010 synchronized national elections was arrested by a composite team from the Mt Province Provincial Police Office during the service of his warrant of arrest at sitio Apalis, Bunot, Paracelis here over the weekend.
Senior Superintendent Oliver Enmodias, director of the Mountain Province Provincial Police Office, identified the arrested suspect as Nestor Puyao Dangangao, 39, single, farmer, native and resident of Sitio Apalis, Bunot, Paracelis, Mountain Province and listed as the No. 10 Top Most Wanted Person Provincial Level who was arrested by virtue of a Warrant issued by Judge Joseph A. Patnaan of the Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 35 for violation of Republic Act (RA) 9369 Law on Automated Election – Burning of PCOS Machine.
Enmodias revealed the same police operatives served six Search Warrants issued by Judge Patnaan at the residences of Jaime Banasan Puyao, Juan Banasan Puyao, Daniel Banasan Puyao, Ricardo Banasan Puyao, Randy Puyao and Pepito Puyao Awing, all of Sitio Apalis, Bunot, Paracelis, Mt Province for alleged violation of RA 10591 Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Act.
The search yielded one (1) Hydra M16 rifle, one (1) live rifle grenade and assorted magazines and ammunitions from the residence of Juan Banasan Puyao while one (1) Browning shotgun and assorted ammunitions were taken from the residence of Daniel Banasan Puyao.
Superintendent Marcial Labadchan Fa-ed, Chief of the Provincial Investigation Branch and one of those who led the operations, said that the police have been receiving information that the above mentioned relatives are armed and have been intimidating the community at Sitio Apalis using their firearms. Validation confirmed the information, hence the application for search warrants in court and which were subsequently issued that justified the conduct of the service of the issued warrants.
He also said that intensifying the campaign against loose firearms is one of the preparations of MPPPO as early as now to ensure peaceful and safe election by next year, especially that it is a synchronized national election.
Nestor Dangangao however immediately posted bail for his temporary liberty while the seized items during the service of search warrants were presented to the court and subsequently turned over to the PNP Crime Lab for ballistics. Documents are also being prepared for the filing of charges against Juan and Daniel Puyao.
Meanwhile, Enmodias lauded his men in these successful operations saying that it feels good to see the community feel good when their concerns, especially on peace and order, are addressed by concerned government agencies and local governments who act on the concerns that they raise in their respective communities.
He also assured the community that the MPPPO personnel are enhancing operations in serving arrest and search warrants as part of its crime prevention and crime solution initiatives under the PNP PATROL Plan 2030.
By Dexter A. See