Suspects claim seized items were planted
By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

Several reported members of a progressive group were arrested late Wednesday afternoon at an Escalante City police checkpoint for allegedly transporting firearms inside their vehicle.
Police identified the arrested suspects as Clint Mangayon, Joel Guillero, Leon Charito, Buenvinido Ducay, Kenneth Serondo, Jonathan Alcosiva, Aiza Gamao, and a 17-year-old minor for whom police have requested anonymity.
Based on information provided by the Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office, the 1st Negros Occidental Police Mobile Force Company were conducting a checkpoint when they flagged down a vehicle. As Patrolman Ruvic Bering approached the vehicle, he saw Serondo draw a .45 caliber pistol, prompting police to make the arrest.
When the vehicle was searched, they discovered more firearms including five .45 caliber pistols, a .38 caliber revolver, a KG-9 sub-machine gun, three rifle grenades, two improvised explosive devices, 21 molotov cocktails, and assorted ammunition.
Escalante City police chief, Police Major Gil John Despi, said they are investigating the group’s affiliation although, based on claims made by the suspects, they were heading to the city to commemorate the anniversary of the 1985 Escalante Massacre.
The nine are reportedly members of various progressive groups including the National Federation of Sugar Workers and Kadamay.
Meanwhile, the arrested suspects denied the weapon recovered in the vehicle belonged to them and accused law enforcement of planting the items.
They claimed, prior to the arrest, they were flagged down by men clad in civilian clothes and wearing bonnets who demanded to see their “permits” and subsequently searched their vehicle.
The men supposedly planted two pistols, a .38 caliber and a 9mm, then placed empty rum bottles they later claimed were intended for making molotov cocktails.
They also seized their mobile phones deleted documentation photos.
The nine face charges for illegal possession of firearms, ammunition, and explosives, and are detained at the Escalante City Police Station./DGB, WDJ