ZAMBOANGA CITY, Zamboanga del Sur — The president of the Liga ng mga Barangay in Siay town was arrested on Tuesday night for illegal possession of a firearm.
Police Major Helen Galvez, Police Regional Office 9 spokesperson, identified the town official as Julius Tadeja Acosta Sr., 70, resident of Purok 3, Barangay Dacanay, Siay town in Zamboanga Sibugay.
As president of the Liga, Acosta sits in the municipal legislature as an ex-officio member.
Acosta was arrested by combined units of Zamboanga Sibugay Police, Zamboanga Sibugay Provincial Mobile Force Company, and Siay Municipal Police Station.
Police were implementing Operation Bakal Sita on the night of July 23 when they bumped into the gun-carrying Acosta in one of the billiard halls in Barangay Poblacion Siay.
Confiscated from Acosta was a caliber .45 pistol with one magazine loaded with eight bullets.
Acosta is detained at the Siay Municipal Police detention cell and will face charges for violating the law regulating gun possession./kga