32 loose firearms surrendered

At least 32 licensed and unlicensed firearms owned by local officials and candidates in the May 14 barangay elections in San Fernando, Cebu were surrendered to the police for safekeeping yesterday.

To show solidarity with the candidates, San Fernando Mayor Neneth Reluya led the turnover by surrendering her own licensed .9mm pistol to Senior Insp. Adrian Nalua, police chief of San Fernando.

Panadtaran Barangay Captain Ricardo “Nonoy” Reluya, who is the mayor’s husband, also surrendered his two high-powered M16 rifles. The firearms are licensed.

The mayor’s husband is running for his third and final term as village chief.

During the previous elections, the mayor’s husband told reporters that his barangay was often monitored because of a conflict between his wife and the previous administration led by former town mayor Antonio “Abe” Canoy.

For Mayor Reluya, the gesture of her husband and other candidates meant that they are moving in a similar direction toward more peaceful and orderly elections.

Nalua, in a separate interview, said they are persuading other candidates to surrender their loose firearms.

For those who surrendered their unlicensed guns, Nalua said they will keep them and will not sue owners. /