Cops seize firearms from properties of Masbate mayor, vice mayor

Police seized high-powered firearms from the properties of Batuan, Masbate's mayor and vice mayor in an early morning raid on Wednesday.

According to Philippine National Police (PNP) spokesperson Senior Superintendent Bernard Banac, operatives raided the house of Mayor Charmax "Macmac" Yuson and the resort owned by his father, Vice Mayor Charlie Yuson, in Barangay Canvañez at 6:30 a.m.

According to initial reports, one M-16 rifle, one fragmented grenade and one magazine were seized from the mayor's house.

One baby M16 rifle, two 12-gauge shotguns, one .45 caliber pistol and one hand grenade were seized from the vice mayor's resort.

Both Yusons remain at large, but police have arrested a suspect identified as Jeason Clemente Cabantac.

According to Emil Sumangil's report for GMA News TV's "Quick Response Team," the Yuson father and son are both seeking reelection in the May 2019 elections.

The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) Regional Field Unit 5 said they received reports of private armed groups and that the mayor and the vice mayor were allegedly in possession of loose firearms.

"Heto po 'yung focus ng police operation natin against private armed groups kasi nagkaroon tayo ng information o report ng mga private armed groups atsaka mga loose firearms na mine-maintain ng mayor at saka ng vice mayor ng bayan na 'to," Police Senior Superintendent Arnold Ardiente, acting chief of the CIDG CFU 5, said.

In a phone interview, Vice Mayor Yuson denied ownership of the seized firearms, saying he suspects a political motive behind the incident.

The vice mayor also said that he and the mayor were out of town to attend an official function at the time of the raid.

"Wala akong takot....alam ng buong Batuan kung sino kaming mag-ama, kung paano kami nag-serbisyo sa batuan. Tao na ang bahala sa aming mag-ama," Yuson said.

Butuan Municipal Secretary Abner Mitra Bocboc also remarked earlier that the mayor and vice mayor were up against "powerful" political opponents.

"Kung tatanungin niyo mga tao dito sa komunidad, sa mga mamamayan ng Batuan, malinis ho sila. 'Yun nga lang, siyempre, hindi maiwasan na malakas ang kalaban nila ngayon sa pulitika. Sa tingin ko, pulitika lang ito," he said.

"Wala po tayong participation sa political issues," CIDG's Ardiente maintained in a separate interview.

"Ang sa atin lang po ay nag-serve lang po tayo ng search warrant na in-issue ng korte kanina pong umaga doon sa area ng mga Yuson family," he added. — RSJ/BM, GMA News