Ex-cop denies leading gun-for-hire group

BACOLOD City – A former police officer was arrested by the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) for alleged violation of the Commission on Elections gun ban in 2010.

Arrested was retired Senior Police Officer 1 Dante Victor Escorpion, 52, of Sitio Pasil, Barangay Mambulac in Silay City, Negros Occidental.

Police Lt. Col. Luke Ventura, CIDG-Negros Occidental head, said Escorpion was arrested after a concerned citizen notified them that he was at the Bacolod City Hall of Justice where he was attending a court hearing.

Ventura said Escorpion is one of Police Regional Office-6 high-value targets and the alleged leader of the Escorpion gun-for-hire group.

The ex-cop is also being linked to the Cuadra gun-for-hire group.

Escorpion denied the allegations saying that he left the PNP and worked as a private investigator for a local company because of better pay.

He also admitted to being convicted of violating the 2010 election gun ban but the case of illegal possession of firearms, which was also filed in the same year, was junked by the court.

Escorpion added he is planning to file a motion for reconsideration over his gun ban violation case.