CHARGES for illegal possession of firearms and explosives were filed yesterday against the mayor of Mabini, Batangas and his two brothers who were arrested in an anti-criminality raid last Saturday.
Charged with violation of Republic Act 9516 or illegal possession of explosives before the Department of Justice was Mabini, Batangas Mayor Nilo Villanueva. His two brothers, ex-police officer Oliver and Bayani, the chairman of Bgy. Sto. Tomas and concurrent president of the local Association of Barangay Captains were charged with violation of RA 10591 or the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulations Act of 2013.
Operatives of the CIDG National Capital Region Field Unit launched the raid at the Villanueva compound on the strength of four search warrants issued by Judge Mary Josephine Lazaro of the Antipolo City Regional Trial Court.
Another brother of Mayor Villanueva identified as Ariel is being hunted.
Members of the CIDG-NCR and the PNP Special Action Force on Saturday first raided the house of Oliver in Sitio Pook in Bgy. Pulong Niogan and arrested him after they recovered a cal. 5.56 automatic rifle with two magazines containing 16 live ammunition and one cal. .45 semi-automatic pistol with three magazines containing a total of 55 bullets.
After the raid at Oliver’s house, officers searched the house of the mayor at Sitio Silangan in Bgy. Sto. Tomas.
The mayor was arrested after policemen recovered a small pouch containing a suspected explosive device inside his residence.
Officers then raided Bayani’s house in Sitio Silangan in Bgy. Sto. Tomas, where they seized one Bushmaster cal. 5.56 assault rifle with magazine containing 10 live ammunition and one MK2 fragmentation grenade.
