The former police chief of Manapla, Negros Occidental, was charged not only for violation of the Comelec gun ban yesterday, but also for falsification of public documents.

This was confirmed yesterday by Inspector Jose Laboyo, Manapla police chief, who personally filed the two charges yesterday against retired Chief Inspector Neifertito Bayona before the Provincial Prosecutor's Office of Negros Occidental.

The arrest of Bayona, a former police chief of Manapla, and his two companions identified as Jose Vasquez, an employee of the Manapla municipal government, and Alan Martirez on May 13, yielded an M-16 assault rifle with magazines and ammunition, two .45 caliber pistols and a .38 caliber Smith and Wesson revolver.

Laboyo said the Provincial Prosecutor's Office has recommended bail of P12,000 each against the three arrested suspects, for violation of the Comelec gun ban.

Police investigations showed that Bayona presented a gun ban exemption for the M-16 rifle and a .45 caliber pistol, which the Comelec suspects to be fake. However, he failed to present documents for the two firearms, Laboyo said.

Bayona was required by the Provincial Prosecutor's Office to submit his counter-affidavit on the charges for falsification of the public documents.

As soon they post the bail required by the court, Laboyo said they will release Bayona and his companions immediately.

The prescribed 18-hour detention of Bayona and his two companions is expected to lapse today.

Meanwhile, Inspector Mateo Maguate yesterday said the fatal shooting of Eliseo Cumawas, a supporter of mayoral candidate Alice Barcelona and Escalante Mayor Santiago Barcelona, on May 13, was election-related.

Maguate said Cumawas and his brother, Jolito, who survived the incident, had received threats from an armed group, before the shooting incident. Cumawas will be buried on Sunday in Toboso.*GPB

back to top