The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group yesterday debunked claims that the recent raid at the house of a businessman in Moises Padilla, that yielded eight guns and hundreds of ammunition, had something to do with politics.

Supt. Khasmir Disomangcop, 601st CIDG provincial officer, said the raid at the house of businessman Francisco Nazareno Sr., a defeated Moises Padilla mayoralty candidate in the May 2004 elections, had nothing to do with politics.

Reports say that Nazareno will try his luck again in the Moises Padilla mayoralty race in this year's synchronized elections.

Mayor Jose Garcia is now on his last term as mayor of the town.

Disomangcop explained that the raid was triggered by persistent reports about the presence of a private armed group in the compound of Nazareno, who vehemently denied the reports.

Nazareno and his son, Jocko, were freed from jail after several hours after their arrest on Wednesday after posting bail of P100,000 each, as ordered by Regional Trial Court Judge Pepito Gellada.

The raid at the house of Nazareno, which was covered by a search warrant issued by Judge Francisco Rodriguez, yielded three .45 caliber pistols, a 9mm pistol, a 357 magnum revolver, a .22 caliber revolver, a super .38 pistol, 12 gauge shotgun and hundreds of ammunition of various caliber of firearms, including an M-16 assault rifle, three holsters, a gun silencer and assorted gun accessories.

Of the eight confiscated firearms, three were unlicensed, three have expired licenses, two are covered by proper documents, CIDG investigations show. Nazareno who denied ownership of the three handguns recovered outside his house, described the raid at his residence as "political harassment", his counsel, John Mark Tamano, said.

Newly-installed Region 6 police director Wilfredo Dulay has ordered police commanders in the Western Visayas to further intensify their campaign against loose firearms, and the disbandment of private armed groups maintained by politicians, in line with the Oplan Paglalansag campaign.

Dulay said he also wants police chiefs to focus their operations on street crimes, and to solve political killings.

Senior Supt. Rosendo Franco, provincial police director, also reminded police chiefs to remain apolitical in the May 14 election.

The Comelec is expected to meet with provincial and city police directors of Western Visayas on Jan. 17 at Camp Martin Delgado in Iloilo City, to discuss election-related concerns.

The police chiefs of 31 towns and cities in Negros Occidental were ordered to submit a list of possible election hotspots in their areas.*GPB

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