Three members of the Revolutionary Proletarian Army-Alex Boncayao Brigade allegedly serving as security escorts of a candidate for barangay kagawad, were arrested by the police in Brgy. Jerusalem , Cadiz City , on Sunday.

Arrested were RPA-ABB members Rogelio Medina, 39; Carlos Sarabia, 60, and Leonardo Nogas, 37. Seized from their possessions were two .38 caliber revolvers with ammunition and two knives.

Chief Inspector Jefferson Descallar, Cadiz police chief, yesterday said the arrested suspects form part of a team of RPA-ABB headed by Danilo Borlas, who is running for kagawad of Brgy. Jerusalem , Cadiz City .

Descallar said he had warned the group of Borlas not to carry their firearms, as they will be held liable for violation of the Comelec gun ban.

Descallar said he arrested the three RPA-ABB members for defying his warning on Sunday, and were caught in the act of carrying firearms and bladed weapons

Senior Supt. Rosendo Franco, provincial police director, also reported yesterday the arrest of Jason Balansag in Brgy.Minapasok, Calatrava. The apprehension yielded an improvised .45 caliber pistol.

The arrest of four more persons for illegal possession of firearms brought to 22 the number of gun ban violators accounted for by the Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office, excluding Bacolod City , since the Comelec gun ban was enforced on Sept. 29.

Franco said northern Negros, especially Escalante City and Calayrava, where the presence of armed men had been reported, turned out to be peaceful as of yesterday afternoon.

He added that he had personally observed the conduct of elections in Escalante City , and talked with its residents. “They claimed they have not seen armed men roaming around,” Franco said.

Majority of the barangay officials in Escalante had earlier sought the help of Governor Joseph Maranon on the alleged harassment activities of armed men allegedly headed by Salvador Benedicto Councilor, Vicente “Oti” Bacordo.

Franco said the holding of SK and barangay elections in Negros Occidental yesterday was much more peaceful, compared to the May 14 polls where the police recorded one casualty in Escalante City .

He, however, said the shooting incident in Murcia was a product of misunderstanding between two barangay officials of Pandanon Silos in the town.*GPB

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