Kagawad nabbed for gun possession

CEBU, Philippines — Barangay Calamba first councilor Hildibrando Ygonia was arrested by police operatives yesterday morning for illegal possession of unlicensed firearms inside his residence in Sitio Mahayahay 1.

Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG)-7 Team Leader, Police Chief Inspector Chuck Barandog, said Ygonia, 50, who is in his last term as councilor, was allegedly reported by his constituents roaming around their barangay showing off his firearm.

Armed with a search warrant issued by Judge Jerry Dicdican of Regional Trial Court Branch 25, Danao City, operatives of the CIDG- 7 raided Ygonia’s house and recovered a caliber .45 with an expired license, a .38 caliber, several live ammunition for caliber 45 and 38, and magazines.

Ygonia admitted that the caliber .45 pistol that has an expired license is his, but denies ownership of the caliber .38 revolver the policemen allegedly found in his residence.

“Pag-abot sa mga konsehal kay gi-search na dayon nila. Didto mi sa taas pero pagnaog namo natingala nalang ko nga naa naay armas lain. Nasagmuyo ko sa balaod nga grabe ang kuan nato sa balaod niya ako karon ang gipalutsan og warrant,” said Ygonia.

Barandog said that aside from the reports of the community regarding Ygonia possessing a gun, they also received reports from their intelligence community that he is also involved in accepting protection money from identified drug personalities in his barangay.

The barangay official allegedly secretly gives out information to certain drug personalities to avoid police operations.

Ygonia, for his part, denied the allegation of the police and reiterated that he has been very active in the anti-illegal drugs campaign in his barangay.

“Ako pa man gani ang pirmi matawag sa mga police kung naay mga operation sa barangay. Ako ang dali nila matawag para mopirma,” Ygonia said.

Barandog, however, said that those arrested personalities that he has been asked to sign or witness with during police operations are those drug personalities who were allegedly not under his protection.

Barandog added that Ygonia’s two brothers, Niero Jr. and Nilo, are both in jail for illegal drugs violation.

Ygonia confirmed that his two brothers are indeed involved in illegal drugs, but he said he did not tolerate their wrongdoings. —GAN (FREEMAN)