Farmer falls in gun raid

By Jennifer P. Rendon

A farmer was arrested after a police search operation on his house in Barotac Nuevo, Iloilo morning of Nov 10, 2022.

Rogel Mendoza, 45, has just woken up when police barged into his house at Barangay Bagongbong around 6:20 a.m. Thursday.

Members of the Barotac Nuevo Municipal Police Station and the Regional Mobile Force Battalion served the arrest warrant against the suspect for violation of Republic Act 10591 (Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act).

Judge Vicente Go of the Regional Trial Court Branch 68 in Dumangas, Iloilo, issued the search warrant on Nov. 9, 2022.

Seized from the suspect’s house were homemade 12-gauge shotgun with magazine and two ammunition shells and two fired cartridge cases of 5.56 mm ammunition.

Major Reagan Oriña, Barotac Nuevo police chief, said they conducted the operation following reports that Mendoza was often seen brandishing a firearm in the area. But there was no formal complaint against the suspect.

In 2009, a case for attempted murder with the use of unlicensed firearm was filed against him before the Iloilo Provincial Prosecutors Office.

But Oriña said they have yet to check the disposition of the case against him.