LAGAYAN, Abra – A barangay tanod died while two others were injured when alleged private armies of feuding politicians chanced upon each other near a pollig center at Pang-ot, here, Monday.
Senior Superintendent Antonio Bartolome, provincial director of the Abra Provincial Police Office, identified the fatality as Manuel Zacarias 49, Brgy Tanod while those injured were named as Randy Viloria, both supporters of Luna and wounding of Joel Almazan Donato, 41, a supporter of Crisologo.
Initial police investigation showed that a group of around ten supporters of Crisologo were on their way to vote when the group of Zacarias and Viloria allegedly accosted them which resulted in a heated altercation between Viloria and a certain Rhil Andres. After which, a gunshot was heard which was followed by exchange of gun fire from both sides.
Responding police operatives immediately went to the crime scene and were able to chance upon several individuals and confiscated from the assorted fiearms and ammunisions
The arrested individuals and the confiscated firearms were . Merly Cabangan, 53, One Cal. 25, One magazine, Eight ammunitions; Charlyn Mae Galero, 38, One Cal. 38,14 ammunitions; Simay Alucday, 27, One Cal. 45 STI Ranger, Six ammunitions; Rhil Andres, 36, One Cal 45 Colt, three magazines with eight ammunition; John Lord Bella, 21, One Homemade shotgun (In Pistol form), One Green Nissan Frontier (WPY 306); Rochelle Donato, 20, One 9mm pistol (KBI HARRISBUR PA) ; and Eva Alucday, 27, One Cal. 45 ARMSCOR 1911-A1, One magazine with 7 ammunitions.
Also recovered from the crime scene were two fired bulled for Cal. 45; twelve (12) empty shells for Cal. 45 and one empty shell for M16 rifle.
Further, recovered in the area during the subsequent clearing operations were M16 Colt rifle with long magazine loaded with 22 live ammunitions and 40MM M203 Grenade Launcher.
All arest6ed persons and the seized pieces of evidence were brought to the Abra Provincial Police Office for documentation and the filing of appropriate charges against them.
By Dexter A. See
