Grenade, pistols, drugs and ID cards seized from the suspects. Contributed photo.
GAPAN CITY – Two persons who allegedly assaulted policemen were arrested after operatives recovered pistols, a grenade, and illegal drugs from their possession at a checkpoint in Barangay San Vicente here at around 10:20 p.m., Jan. 25.
Police identified the suspects as John Paul Neirval, 23, and Arnold Rebamba, 26, both natives of Barangay Kapalangan here but currently residing in Poblacion, San Antonio, Nueva Ecija.
City police chief Lt. Col. Alexie Desamito said the suspects were on board a motorcycle without wearing helmets when flagged down in an anti-criminality checkpoint.
“But instead of obeying, said persons disregarded (the call to stop) and even attempted to escape,” Desamito said, adding that a chase ensued.
She said that when caught, one of the suspects reportedly said: “Ano’ng problema niyung mga hayup kayo? Baka hindi ninyo kami kilala.”
One of the suspects then pushed a ranking police officer supervising the checkpoint.
Rebamba yielded a loaded .9mm pistol while one .45 caliber pistol marked with “Golden Boy,” also with ammunition, was seized from Neirval, Desamito said in her report to Nueva Ecija police chief Col. Jess Mendez.
Further search led to confiscation of a hand grenade and nine sachets of shabu with combined value of P3,060 from the suspects, the report also said.
Charges of direct assault, violations of the Omnibus Election Code (gun ban) and the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act were being leveled against the suspects who are detained at the police custodial facility.
