21 guards arrested for gun ban violation

CEBU, Philippines —  At least 21 guards from a private security agency were arrested by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Mandaue City Field Unit for violating the Commission on Elections gun ban while taking over a property allegedly owned by someone else.

The guards were arrested while they were deployed in a lot in Barangay Umapad, Mandaue City yesterday.

Agent-in-charge Arnel Pura said the security forces do not have Comelec gun ban certificate of exception to carry firearms during the election season.

"Naa tay napulo ka shotgun (seized), eleven revolver, some of these firearms has defaced serial numbers, specially these shotguns," said Pura.

According to Pura, their investigation stemmed from a complaint from one of the owners of the lot.

He said the area is allegedly backed with tax declaration and certificate of title from the complainant.

The complainant claimed that since January, a security group from an agency had taken over their property by force.

"At 10 p.m. in the evening, kay wala man ni sila diri guard kay confident man sila sa ilang claim diri kay naa man ni mga title, naay tax declarations, gisulod jud aning mga security guard..so in short, naka take full control sila aning area," said Pura.

Since then, Pura said there has been a consistent complaint from residents aside from lot owners who alleged that the security guards were harassing them and barring them from entering the area.

"Especially after atong onslaught atong typhoon Odette, dili gani daw ipasulod an construction materials para sa ilang balay," said Pura.

Aside from this, a national road undertaken by the Department of Public Works and Highways near the area was also closed, barring the entry of residents and DPWH workers.

Pura said that when the complaint was forwarded to them from the Department of Justice, they immediately launched a surveillance to gather evidence.

During the surveillance, the NBI was able to gather complainants of the alleged harassment, coercion and other threats.

"Mao ning in coordination with the SWAT, with the LGU, was carried out based atong pag-possess and carry nila og firearms," said Pura.

Pura added that the claimant of the lot wasn't identified. — LPM (FREEMAN)