Soldiers nab 4 armed men after firefight in San Fernando’s mountain barangay

CEBU CITY, Philippines — A squad of the Philippine Army assigned to secure San Fernando’s hinterland villages in the election engaged in a firefight with armed civilians four days before the May 13 polls.

Soldiers of the Philippine Army’s 47th Infantry Battalion Bravo company, who are stationed at an advance command post in Barangay Magsico with two local policemen, responded to a report of sightings of armed men of adjacent Barangay Bugho past 2 p.m. Thursday, May 9, 2019.

Read more: Police, soldiers to secure San Fernando’s hinterland barangays on election day

Patrolman Philip Gespo, desk officer of the San Fernando Police Station, told CDN Digital in a phone interview on Thursday, May 9, that they received the report of armed men from the village chief, Florenda Basala.

When the soldiers in the command post responded to the area, the armed men allegedly opened fire at them.

The soldiers, Gespo said, fired back, and chased the armed assailants, which led to their arrest at around 2:30 p.m.

The soldiers arrested Romeo Solis Jr., 39, and a resident of Barangay Balud; Prisco Tapales, 29, and a resident of Barangay Greenhills; Manuel Alidon, 54, a resident of Barangay North Poblacion; and Anastacio Solis, 50, who hails from Barangay Pooc in Talisay City.

Gespo said they recovered two .357 caliber magnum rifles, two motor vehicles and several ammunition of a high-powered firearm from the suspects.

Nobody was injured from the encounter.

Initial report said that the house of a  municipal council candidate, Teodoro Resogento, who is running under the slate of incumbent Mayor Lakambini Reluya, was hit during the encounter.

Gespo, however, said that they could not confirm yet if the presence of the armed men was related to the election.

The suspects were detained at the San Fernando Police Station detention cell pending the filing of charges./dbs.