TAYUM, Abra – A punong barangay of the municipality of Tineg was arrested by police operatives for illegal possession of firearm and ammunitions in a police checkpoint at barangay Gaddani here around 9:20 pm Sunday.
Senior Superintendent Antonio Bartolome, provincial director of the Abra Provincial Police Office, identified the arrested individual as Jonathan Guayen Benwagen, 36, married, barangay Captain of Naglibacan, Tineg, Abra.
Initial police investigation showed the suspect was on board a motorcycle proceeding towards the south direction when his vehicle was flagged down by police operatives manning the established checkpoint considering that the same had no license plate number.
During the conduct of the visual search on his vehicle and his person, the suspect was found to be in possession of 1 caliber .40 GLOCK 22 Pistol bearing Serial number AACUO37 with 1 short magazine loaded with 16 live ammunitions.
The suspect was arrested and his firearm and ammunitions were confiscated by the police operatives after he failed to show pertinent documents to show his ownership and possession of the same.
The suspect is now detained at the Tayum Municipal Police Station for documentation and filing of the charges of violation of the provisions of Republic Act (RA) 10591 or the Comprehensive Firearms Law against him before the Abra provincial prosecutor’s office.