TAGUM CITY – A village chief in Maco town in Compostela Valley is now facing illegal possession of firearms charges after assault rifles believed to have been used by New People’s Army (NPA) rebels, were found stashed in his house, the military said on Friday.
Lt. Col. Esteveyn Ducusin, commander of the Army’s 71st Infantry Battalion, said Oligario Dagohoy of Barangay Limbo has been charged with violation of Republic Act 10591 or the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act, after soldiers found in his possession at least eight assault rifles during a pursuit operation against suspected NPA rebels on Tuesday.
Prior to the discovery of the guns, Ducusin said they had received information about the presence of armed men at the vicinity of Purok (community) 3.
According to Ducusin, a former NPA fighter told them that the rifles were entrusted to Dagohoy.
Ducusin said that when soldiers reached Purok 3 to verify the information, they were immediately fired at by at least three suspects. This triggered a brief exchange of gunfire. The suspects fled during the shooting and were chased by the soldiers, said Ducusin.
During the chase, Ducusin said soldiers chanced on Dagohoy, who was hurriedly trying to hide a sack beside a chicken coop near his house.
When the sack was retrieved and opened by the soldiers, they found six M16 and two AK-47 rifles inside.
According to Ducusin, when asked, Dagohoy failed to present documents to show he legally owned the rifles. Dagohoy is now detained at the Maco police station. / muf