Ex-DRRMO worker falls in gun raid

By Jennifer P. Rendon

 

An employee of the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO) of Miag-ao, Iloilo was arrested following a firearm raid morning of October 25.

Ronan John Austria was arrested at his home in Barangay Maninila, Miag-ao around 7:05 am Monday.

His arrest came just 10 days after he was accused by another MDRRMO employee of harassment.

Joint elements of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG)-Iloilo Provincial Field Unit, the 606th Company of the Regional Mobile Force Battalion, and Miag-ao Police Station swooped down on Austria’s abode by virtue of search warrant no. 16-2020.

Executive Judge Nelita Jesusa Bacaling of the Regional Trial Court 6 (RTC-6) Branch 72, Guimbal, Iloilo, issued the warrant.

Recovered during the search operation were a caliber .45 Norinco pistol (serial number 204959), two magazines and 18 pieces of ammunition, and an inside holster.

Captain Joevito Bose, Miag-ao police chief, said the operation against the suspect was triggered by complaints that he was seen brandishing a gun.

There were also complaints that he poked a pistol at another person.

But Bose said no case was filed against Austria over the alleged threat.

“Because of the complaints, the operatives checked with the PNP Firearms and Explosives Office and noted that no gun was licensed in his name,” he said.

It was gathered that Austria used to be the head of the Miag-ao MDRMMO but was relieved from his post and was replaced by someone else.

Several days ago, an employee of the Miag-ao MDRRMO accused Austria of harassment.

A certain Zoila Fernandez claimed she had been receiving messages from a fake account that besmirched her personal life.

It was gathered that Fernandez stood as a witness against Austria after the latter was photographed while drinking liquor in April 2020.

After the photo went viral, Fernandez claimed that Austria had been picking on her, like taking out the desktop computer she used in her work.

There were reports that the suspect was put on floating status while Fernandez was also reassigned to another office.

The police did not confirm if the incident has something to do with the gun raid.

But over Facebook, several persons have hailed the arrest of the suspect citing “abuses.”

Austria is now detained and will be charged for violation of Republic Act 10591 (Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act).