Police raids in ex-brgy chairman, son’s house yields grenades

By RPCRD, Police Regional Office 8
February 7, 2013

CAMP SEC. KANGLEON, Palo, Leyte – A former barangay chairman in Calbayog City and his namesake son who is also the village’s councilman are in hot water after the Regional Special Operation Task Group (RSOTG-Samar) found hand grenades in raids conducted on their respective homes early Wednesday morning.

Eastern Visayas top police official Police Chief Superintendent Elmer Ragadio Soria of Police Regional Office 8 (PRO8) said that simultaneous police raid in the houses of Antonio Casurao Bantad Sr alias Donyong and his son Antonio Ladag Bantad Jr alias Nonoy, both situated at Brgy Danao, Tinambacan Dist in Calbayog City at around 5:30 o’ clock early Wednesday morning yielded two hand grenades and the subsequent arrests of the two suspects.

The elder Bantad is a former barangay chairman of said village, a position now being held by his wife Marina. The younger Bantad, meanwhile, is a barangay kagawad of same barangay.

“These police operations are part of our effort in ensuring secure and fair elections in Samar province which was earlier listed as an election priority area,” the Regional Director said.

Soria added this is the first time that explosives were seized by PRO8 in law enforcement operations since the start of the election period last January 13 which so far have resulted in the arrest of 14 gun ban violators and confiscation of 20 firearms of assorted calibers.

The top police official informed that the police teams are clothed by search warrants issued by Hon. Alphinor C. Serrano, Executive Judge of Regional Trial Court Branch 6 in Tacloban City.

The raid in the elder Bantad’s house was led by Police Superintendent Rolando Bade and was witnessed by barangay kagawads Florencio Lucis and Fructouso Bustamante and Chief Tanod Jose Commendador. Aside from a hand grenade, the police team also recovered 4 slugs of undetermined caliber.

Meanwhile, the implementation of the search warrant in the younger Bantad’s house was led by Police Superintendent Hector Enage and was witnessed by barangay kagawad Rolito Monarba and barangay tanod Raul Ariata that resulted in the confiscation of a hand grenade, one bladed weapon locally known as “balisong” and iron fist locally known as jabbing-lesa”.

“Cases for violation of Republic Act 9516 are being prepared for filing in court against the two suspects who are currently detained at Calbayog City Police Station lock-up cell,” Soria added.