Ex-PDEA chief nabbed for gun in voting center

MANDAUE City police arrested yesterday a former chief of the K9 division of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency in Central Visayas (PDEA-7) for allegedly brandishing a gun while inside the Mandaue City Central School.

Police arrested Carlito Ermac, 57, of Barangay Alang-Alang, Mandaue City after a 9 mm caliber pistol with 18 bullets was found inside his car.

Supt. Melbert Esguerra, head of MCPO’s Investigation Detective Management Branch, said members of the Special Weapons and Tactics team apprehended Ermac as he was about to leave the school in his vehicle.

Esguerra said Ermac was brought to the Mandaue police office for questioning and arrested after the papers exempting him from the Comelec gun ban, which he presented, were found to have expired last February.

Esguerra also said the gun ban exemption covers only those in full uniform while performing their duty.

Based on their investigation, Esguerra said Ermac arrived at the school to vote when security guard

Jemar Pasco stopped him from entering because vehicles were not allowed inside the school.

But Ermac told the guard that his wife, who was not well, needed assistance in walking. Ermac asked if he could park his car inside.

“I told him that it was prohibited to bring a vehicle inside the school unless he is a senior citizen. Instead, he showed me his PDEA ID, and he lifted his shirt to show his gun,” Pasco said in Cebuano.

Ermac said he denied pointing a gun at Pasco, who even allowed him to enter the school in his car.

Pasco said he let Ermac in, but he told a woman nearby that Ermac had a gun. The woman reported this to the police.

“Wa man koy bayolenteng gihimo, igo ra ko mibotar (I didn’t do anything violent; I just exercised my right to vote),” Ermac said.

Esguerra said they will file a violation of the Comelec gun ban and illegal possession of firearms against Ermac, who was detained at the police station.