By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga
A retired soldier of the Philippine Army was arrested after he allegedly discharged his firearm on the evening of New Year’s Day at Purok Cory in Barangay Tabu, Ilog, Negros Occidental.
Police identified the arrested as 45-year-old Rubin Vidal, a resident of the said place.
Ilog police chief, Police Capt. Thurslie Castillo, said at around 9:00 p.m. of January 1, Vidal’s wife called town Councilor Leo Premucha and told him that her husband was acting unruly and allegedly discharged his firearm several times.
As Premucha is considered a “person in authority,” he immediately exercised his power and arrested Vidal on the spot, after which Vidal was brought to the Ilog Municipal Police Station.
Castillo said prior to being arrested Vidal also got into a heated argument with his wife, which prompted him to discharge his firearm.
The suspect was also noted to be inebriated at the time of the incident.
Police recovered a .45 caliber pistol, along with several live and empty .45 bullets.
Castillo added they are now conducting a validation to see if Vidal’s .45 caliber pistol was registered, and the suspect had also undergone a paraffin test.
Vidal could face charges related to Republic Act 10591, or the Comprehensive Law on Firearms and Ammunition.
Police are also waiting if Premucha will also press charges of resisting arrest as Vidal also allegedly resisted when he was being arrested./DGB, WDJ