CABANATUAN CITY – A ranking municipal official in northern Nueva Ecija was arrested by the regional special operations task groups and Criminal Investigation and Detection Team operatives for illegal possession of firearms on Wednesday, in the rundown to the May 13 mid-term elections.
Senior Supt. Crizaldo Nieves, Nueva Ecija police director, identified the official as Antonio Ysmael, 43, president of the towns Association of Barangay Captains and member of the municipal council of Cuyapo, Nueva Ecija.
Cuyapo, is one of the 19 towns and three cities under the category of “election watchlist” in the province.
Police said Ysmael was arrested and charged with violation of Republic Act 1866 or illegal possession of firearms and ammunition for allegedly yielding a cal. 9mm gun and ammunition.
Supt. Ricardo Villanueva, commander of the provincial public safety company, said combined forces of the PPSC and CIDT under the specially created RSOTG raided Ysmal’s premises at around 7:30 a.m. Wednesday on a warrant issued by Executive Judge Angelo Perez of Regional trial Court Branch 27.
“The subject failed to present any valid license or permit to possess the firearms which led to his arrest,” Villanueva said.
