A member of the Bacolod City Legal Office Enforcement Unit was arrested by Station 4 policemen at about 7:10 p.m. Monday in Brgy. Villamonte in the city for violation of the COMELEC gunban.

Arrested was Juanito Empase, 60, of Purok Cubay, Brgy. Villamonte, Station 4 commander, Chief Insp. Adonis Rosales said

Investigation showed that Station 4 policemen were conducting check point operations at C.L. Montelibano Drive when Empase, who was on his motorcycle tried to avoid them.

Rosales said they saw Empase throw a pouch when the policemen chased and arrested him. He said they recovered a .45 caliber Colt pistol with serial number 940297 with six bullets in it from the pouch he threw.

Cesar Beloria, head of the CLO Enforcement Unit, said he was surprised to learn what happened because he knows Empase as a good person.

Beloria said they will conduct an investigation on Empase’s case and will forward their report to City Legal Officer Joselito Bayatan, who will submit his recommendations to Bacolod Mayor Evelio Leonardia.

Beloria also said Empase will be meted appropriate penalties and, worse, he might be removed from his job.

Empase is the second person in Bacolod City to be arrested for violating the COMELEC gun ban after the arrest of Ulrich Cordero, 25, of Purok 6 in Brgy. Alangilan, Bacolod in Brgy. Granada last week.

PRO-6 records shows that 19 persons, including a policeman, have been arrested for violating the Omnibus Election code that prohibit the of carrying of firearms.

Of the 19 arrested, 7 are from Iloilo province; 3 each from Aklan and Bacolod City; two each in Iloilo City and Negros Occidental; and one in Antique, and in Capiz and Guimaras provinces.*APN

back to top