CALBAYOG CITY — Government security forces arrested Tuesday a gun-wielding alleged member of a Samar private armed group identified with a local politician here.
Supt. Aquilino Pongcol, head of the Samar Provincial Mobile Force Company stationed in this city, identified the suspect as Erwin Jalayajay Francisco, 29, resident of Bgy. San Jose in this city who has a standing warrant of arrest for a murder case. Francisco was spotted with high-powered firearms at Barangay Manguinoo, Tinambacan District.
In his report to Chief Supt. Dionardo Carlos, Director of the Police Regional Office 8 (PRO8), Pongcol said Francisco was arrested on the strength of a warrant of arrest issued by Judge Cicero Lampasa, Acting Presiding Judge Calbayog City Regional Trial Court (RTC) for murder case.
Pongcol said the suspect is included in the police list of most wanted persons for his alleged involvement in murder.
Francisco reportedly went into hiding since last year after authorities filed a murder case against him. He only surfaced recently and is apparently being coddled by a local politician in this city.
“The suspect is being utilized by a local politician for the May elections,” said a police source who declined to be named, as he is not allowed to give information to the media.
Seized from the suspect’s possession include a caliber .45 pistol and an automatic assault rifle caliber 5.56 and ammunition for different kinds of firearms.
Police also recovered from the suspect a bonnet and a pair of hand gloves.
Violation of the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) Omnibus Elections Code and Illegal possession of firearms and ammunition is being readied against the suspect who is presently under the custody of Calbayog City Police Station detention facility.