Freedom short-lived for Talisay prisoner

CEBU, Philippines - Renerio Calma Jr., a former inmate, stepped out of the jail Wednesday. Just about 24 hours after regaining his freedom, he would find himself behind bars once again.

Calma, 36, was arrested Thursday afternoon for allegedly bringing a sharp object while watching a basketball game in Barangay Pooc, Talisay City.

It was Pooc Barangay Captain Bernard Balorio who tipped the police about the presence of a man in the area who was allegedly in possession of a sharp object.

Police Officer 1 Marlon Añabiza, the arresting officer, told The FREEMAN that Calma was harboring a personal grudge on Balorio, believing that the latter was the reason why he was sent to prison in December.

That time, Calma was arrested for the same offense – possession of a bladed weapon.

He served two months in jail and was finally out last Wednesday.

But when Balorio saw him allegedly with a sharp object on Thursday, the former immediately called the police for assistance.

Añabiza said when they arrived in the place, they allegedly saw Calma trying to escape.

They were able to finally corner him and recovered an 18-inch steel rod with a sharp point from his possession.

Balorio believed Calma was under the influence of illegal drugs but Añabiza said they had yet to investigate further to confirm this, as well as to check if the suspect is also a drug surrenderer.

Interviewed by reporters, Calma admitted owning the bladed weapon but denied threatening Balorio.

Yesterday morning, police already filed a case of violation of Batas Pambansa Blg. 6 for possession of bladed weapon against Calma who is now detained at the Talisay City Police Station.

Councilman nabbed

Meanwhile, a barangay councilman of North Poblacion, City of Naga is facing a criminal complaint for illegal possession of dangerous drugs before the City Prosecutor’s Office.

Councilman Kister Jan Abangan, 33, and his back rider Gerald Geonzon, also 33, were arrested when they yielded five sachets of suspected shabu during a routine checkpoint in Barangay North Poblacion on Wednesday evening.

The two reportedly tried to evade the checkpoint by speeding on when flagged down by authorities.

They were eventually cornered by the law enforcers.

When frisked, sachets of illegal drugs valued at P4,000 were then found in their possession, according to Senior Police Officer Kin Cabrera of the city police station.

Superintendent Gregorio Galsim, city police chief who led the checkpoint along with members of the Philippine Army, said Abangan will face charges for violation of Section 11, Article 2 of RA 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

Abangan is a last-term councilman and is said to be a known drug user in his locality, according to Galsim. However, police will still check if he was also into selling drugs.

City of Naga Mayor Kristine Chiong also commented on Abangan’s arrest, saying that officials who are implicated in illegal drugs put decent public officials and local governments in a bad light.

Both Abangan and Geonzon are now detained at the Naga Police Station.  — Iris Mariani B. Algabre and Mylen P. Manto (FREEMAN)