12 village watchmen nabbed for brandishing firearms in Iloilo

ILOILO CITY — Police arrested 12 village watchmen for violating the election gun ban in Lambunao town, Iloilo.

The suspects had been detained at the Lambunao police station since past 10 p.m. on Sunday pending the filing of charges.

Police Major Raymond Seloso, deputy chief of the Iloilo Provincial Police Office, said the police received a tip about the presence of armed men at the town plaza in Barangay Juyobo.

“We received text messages about the presence of armed men in the barangay plaza and PB (barangay captain) Milky Lira (of Jayubo) was brandishing an unknown long firearm,” said Seloso.

The police arrived at the plaza past 10 p.m. on Sunday and arrested the village watchmen, he said. Lira, however, escaped, said Seloso.

Arrested were Remegio Libuna, 73; Jose Lavente, 62; Robert Cabolico, 53; Johnny Lebuna Jr., 34; Elmer Legarde, 43; Bernabe Larroza, 35; Sunny Boy Latoza, 49; Ernesto Legarde, 56; Carlos Esmaya, 64; Ernesto Lastimoso, 58; Federico Compliza, 48; and Johnny Lebuna, 57.

Seized were six 12-gauge shotgun, one knife, one .38 caliber revolver, and one .22 caliber revolver.

Libuna told the Inquirer that he owned one of the firearms for self-defense.