BACOLOD CITY, Philippines — Three security escorts of Mayor Joelito Malabor of Isabela, Negros Occidental were arrested yesterday for illegal possession of firearms.
Police said Florentino Lopio, Alexander Ferrer and Niel Larido yielded three caliber .45 pistols, bullets for a caliber .45 and 9mm pistols, magazines for a submachine gun and bullet shells for an M16 rifle.
Lopio and Ferrer are retired Army soldiers.
In Surigao del Sur, 41 guns, 200 rounds of ammunitions and 21 magazines for a submachine gun were seized during a raid on the house of Isidro Lozada, 62, a candidate for board member, on Sunday.
Lozada was arrested at his residence in Barangay Bagong Lungsod, Tandag City at around 7:45 p.m. after he failed to present the necessary permits and licenses. – Ben Serrano