BACOLOD City – Due to a technicality, the Provincial Prosecutor’s Office ordered the release of three suspects – two of them barangay officials – from Escalante City police custody on Saturday.
The Provincial Prosecutor’s Office ordered the release of barangay kagawad Leslie Cruz Lamayo, 49, of Purok Azucena in Barangay Old Poblacion Escalante City; barangay kagawad Rollie Sasa Jaena, 49, of Barangay Andres Bonifacio in Sagay City; and Luvismin Narvasa Bautista, 55, of Barangay Aquino, Canlaon City, Negros Oriental.
The three were apprehended in a police entrapment operation, 7 p.m. on Wednesday in Purok Azucena, Barangay Old Escalante, Escalante City.
The combined operations of the Provincial Intelligence Unit, Sagay City police and Escalante City police led by Police Superintendent Necerato Sabando, Jr. arrested the suspects at Lamayo’s house.
Police operatives recovered one unit Armscor caliber. 45 pistol; one unit KG-9 caliber. 9mm with serial number 835152; one unit TCM Cal. 22 rifle with serial number 012318, one unit Armscor caliber. 45 pistol with serial number LCD014583; two magazines of caliber. 9 mm; two magazines of caliber. 22; three magazines of caliber. 45; seven live bullets of caliber. 22; nine live bullets of caliber. 45; two pieces magazine pouches; three holster and two pieces silencers.
However, the Provincial Prosecutor’s Office noted that there was no search warrant presented by the police and no entrapment money confiscated – grounds for an order of release.
Chief Inspector Robert Mansueto hopes that the case filed against the three – for violation of Republic Act 10591, or the Comprehensive Law on Firearms and Ammunition – will still prosper.
Mansueto disclosed that the operation was supposed to be undertaken in Sagay City but it was diverted to Escalante City after the suspects transferred to the house of Lamayo.
He admitted that he was in the process of securing a search warrant, but went ahead with the entrapment operation anyway, fearing the transaction will transpire without their interception./PN
