Claveria mayor’s ma, brother nabbed for guns and ammo

AUTHORITIES have arrested the mother and brother of Claveria town mayor Meraluna Abrogar in Misamis Oriental, including eight others for alleged illegal possession of guns in a raid conducted in Purok 2, Centro, Claveria town, early Tuesday.

Arrested were Abrogar’s mother Gertrudes Salvaleon, 66, and her brother Reggan Salvaleon, 36; and brothers Mario Pagara, 49; and Christopher Pagara 39 who served as the family’s security personnel. The four were subjects of the court order.

Also arrested were six members of the Civilian Active Auxiliary (CAA) identified as Joselito Cabaluna, 29, of Tipolohon; Richie Taquin, 39, of Malagana; Ramie Bacala, 40, of Malagana; Ricardo Sumilla, 60, of Aposkahoy; Ernesto Ayumon, 33, of Poblacion; and Roger

Cailing, 49 of Malagana. Armed with search warrants, members of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) in Misamis Oriental, military and Claveria town police stormed the suspects’ houses and seized short and long firearms and several ammunition.

The search warrants for illegal possession of firearms (RA 10591) and illegal possession of explosives (RA 9516) were issued by a local court of Gingoog City, on May 20.

Authorities seized three 45 caliber pistol, two M14 rifle, four M16 rifle, a KG9 submachine gun and more than a thousand live bullets for different calibers.

The Salvaleon’s and Pagara’s will face illegal possession of guns charges and Comelec gun ban while the other six CAAs will be turned over to the army’s 58th Infantry Battalion with their government issued firearms and ammunition.

Abrogar, however, denied in a radio interview that the confiscated firearms were owned by her mother and brother.

The reelected mayor said the operation did not bother the family because she maintained those guns were owned by the members of CAA.

“Dili na amo ang mga armas ug wala sa panimalay namo nakuha ang armas kundili naa sa Cafgu. Sige ko remind sa akong igsoon sa akong ginikanan nga dili kita magbaton og armas,” Abrogar said.

“Wala kami mabalaka kay nahibalo kami sa balaod. Ug walay problema kani sa amo kay ingon ana man gyud ang proseso sa balaod ang importante masabtan sad ang among mga rason,”she added.

Abrogar cited a family feud with a certain Dodot Kawasan who have been causing trouble not only to her family but to other residents in their village.

The mayor said Kawasan has been threatening her and her family for some time. She also said Kawasan may have a hand in the operation.

“Naa mi mga hulga sa kinabuhi tungod niining Dodot Kawasan. Pila nami katuig diha karon pami kabati og kahadlok busa dili mi mabalaka aning sa CIDG operation kay dili mi guilty apan nalipay mi nga nissurrender nani siya,”Abrogar said. Alwen Saliring