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NEGROS OCCIDENTAL, Philippines (4th UPDATE) – Police raided on Thursday, May 2, the house of a mayoral candidate in Pulupandan town in this province, and recovered 55 high-powered firearms. They arrested 3 policemen, one security guard and 5 civilians.
Members of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) based in Camp Crame, backed up by the elite Special Action Force of the Philippine National Police, raided the house of Miguel Peña, son of outgoing Mayor Magsi Peña. The son is running unopposed for mayor to replace his father.
The local police here said they recovered from the house 43 shotguns, 6 AK47 rifles, two M16 rifles, two .308 sniper rifles, two caliber .45 pistols, two military explosives, and ammunition, the police said. Arrested were SPO1 Vicente Castillo and P02 Pedrito Lupo, an unidentified security guard and 5 unidentified civilians.
Magsi, who belongs to the Nationalist People’s Coalition, insisted to reporters that all the firearms are licensed and that the police don’t have basis to confiscate them.
Reports reaching Camp Crame said that Chief Supt Agrimero Cruz Jr., Western Visayas police director, cited initial information that CIDG operatives based in Camp Crame, Quezon City and members of the SAF implemented a search warrant on the residence of Magsi’s son in Barangay Ubay for violation of Presidential Decree 1866 (illegal possession of firearms) issued by Judge Maria Filomena Singh, the 2nd vice executive judge of Quezon City.
Magsi said he doesn’t live in the house anymore, but he visits from time to time, and that the property is now in the names of his sons, Miguel and Harry. He said he resides in Bacolod City.
Cruz however said they would still charge Magsi and other occupants of the house for illegal possession of military explosives. Magsi claimed the explosives were “planted.”
He added the weapons are needed for his protection. He said he’s a target of the New People’s Army.
In May 2007, he survived an ambush on his convoy by suspected communist rebels in Barangay Zone 4, Pulupandan. His driver and bodyguard died in the attack.
Close allies of Alvarez
The Peñas are relatives and close allies of Negros Occidental Vice Gov Genaro Alvarez Jr who is running for governor against incumbent Gov Alfredo Marañon Jr.
Marañon is running under the opposition United Nationalist Alliance (UNA), while Alvarez is running under the NPC of Eduardo “Danding” Cojuangco, the political patriarch here and uncle of President Benigno Aquino III.
Marañon, Alvarez and the Peñas used to be political allies.
But the 2013 polls divided them, with Alvarez deciding to fight Marañon for governor.
Cojuangco’s grip on the province will be measured by the success or failure of Alvarez, his handpicked candidate. Marañon, Cojuangco’s former ally, thinks he has grown his own political network that is capable of defeating his patron’s. (Read: Can you defy Danding and win in Negros polls?) – Rappler.com
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