2 men nabbed in Eastern Samar for gun ban violation

By RPCRD, Police Regional Office 8
February 15, 2013

CAMP KANGLEON, Palo, Leyte – The region’s top police official had directed the Eastern Samar Police Provincial Office (ESPPO) to conduct a thorough investigation and verification on possible affiliation with the communist-terrorists or criminal gangs of the two men they have arrested to include a massive manhunt operation against another person who shoot it out with authorities in Oras town on Wednesday afternoon.

Police Chief Superintendent Elmer Ragadio Soria, Regional Director of Police Regional Office 8 (PRO8) disclosed that he ordered a thorough check on the probable involvement of the arrested suspects in criminal incidents in said province to include their possible connections to the local communist movement.

“The fact that they figured in a gunfight with our men is a clear indication that they are not only dangerous but could also be involved in something illegal,” Soria said.

The Regional Director identified the suspects as Alfredo Nofiel y Delao, 55, and Noel Norombaba y Balaca, 58, while another suspect Erni Normbada is still the subject of manhunt operation.

Soria informed that at around 12:45 Wednesday afternoon, joint elements of Eastern Samar Police Provincial Office, Oras Municipal Police Station and 14th Infantry Battalion of Philippine Army led by Police Senior Inspector Elmerson Badilla responded to a call for police assistance from a certain Edgar Montallana of Brgy. Paypayon, Oras, Eastern Samar, alleging that he was threatened by the suspects.

When the team arrived in the area and while moving towards the house of Erni Norombaba, suspect fired a .38 caliber revolver to the approaching law enforcers prompting them to returned fire. The troops maneuvered towards the house but Erni jumped through the window to elude arrest but his gun accidentally fall to the ground.

The team was able to arrest the elder Norombada and Nofiel and confiscated a .38 caliber “paltik” revolver loaded with 5 ammunition and one spent shell, two homemade handguns and 7 ammunitions of caliber 5.56 mm.

Arrested persons were brought to Oras Municipal Police Station for proper disposition as appropriate criminal charges are now being prepared for filing in court against them while the police have launched manhunt operations against Erin Norombada.