STO. TOMAS, Pampanga– Five supporters of the rival faction re-electionist Mayor Lito Naguit here are now in jail after they were arrested by the police for various election offenses Tuesday night.
Rodelio Garcia, former municipal administrator and now a staunch supporter of mayoralty candidate Romeo “Ninong” Ronquillo, was arrested for illegal possession of firearms together with four others.
According to Naguit, Garcia’s vehicle yielded a firearm hidden under the driver’s seat.
Earlier, Naguit’s supporters as well as some concerned citizens in Barangay San Vicente who were monitoring the area reported the presence of armed men in their village.
The mayor said villagers were alarmed as men in five vehicles, some of which have no plate numbers, arrived in their village and allegedly started to “buy votes” at the Northville resettlement.
“Nabengi mag operate la sanang dakalan. Mag dala nalang pera, atin lang kayabe security dang mangadagul katawan abe do retang hardcore supporters ng Ninang Ronquillo (Last night they were planning to operate a big one.
They were bringing a lot of cash money and they were accompanied by burly security men as well as hardcore supporters of Ninang Ronquillo [wife of Ronquillo who is running for vice mayor]),” narrated Naguit.
The mayor said as soon as they got wind of what was happening, the villagers surrounded the five vehicles, blocked their path and called the police.
“Mengataranta la uling magdala yang baril i Rodel. Binili ne ketang flooring ning driver’ seat (They panicked because Rodel was carrying a gun. He hid it under the driver’s seat),” said Naguit.
Police later recovered a .45 caliber pistol under the driver’s seat of Garcia’s dark blue Toyota Land Cruiser VX with plate number RJJ 692.
Garcia, of Dalaquitan, Barangay San Matias, was immediately placed under arrest. A case of violation of the Omnibus Election Code for illegal possession of firearms was filed against him.
Four others identified as Ryan Punzalan, 29; Reynaldo Aquino, 33; June Caparas, 35; and, Jeff Baltazar, 25, all residents of Sto. Rosario, Hagonoy, Bulacan, were also charged with Garcia for various election offenses.
Meanwhile, Naguit is urging his constituents to be vigilant and to report immediately any vote-buying activity in their areas as he appealed to his political opponent not to harass the people and allow them to decide and vote for leaders according to the dictates of their conscience.
