North Cotabato town mayor cries harassment over house raid, arrest

KIDAPAWAN CITY — Antipas town Mayor Egidio Cadungon said the raid in his house that led to his arrest on Friday morning was “purely political harassment.”

Cadungon, who was placed under custody of the Antipas town police, sent this text message to the media following the raid, where police said they found a .45-caliber pistol with live ammunition in one of his houses here.

“It’s purely political harassment,” Cadungon said in a text message to the media.

Captain Bernard Abarquez, Antipas chief of police, however, denied the mayor’s claim.

“It was the regional office of the PNP that conducted the raid. Antipas PNP just assisted them during the operation,” Captain Abarquez told reporters.

Recovered from the house in Barangay Poblacion was a caliber .45 handgun and a magazine with one live bullet.

Other houses of the mayor were searched, including one in Barangay Lampayan, where nothing was found.

Cadungon said he owned the live bullet but did not elaborate.

Abarquez said he would file charges against the mayor on Friday.