DUMAGUETE CITY -- A man and his back rider were nabbed at a checkpoint in Sta. Catalina, Negros Oriental Monday after a hand grenade was found in the possession of the former.
A report from the Negros Oriental Provincial Police Office (NOPPO) identified the suspects as Rey Plasanga Moleño, 31, a resident of North Poblacion, Bacong, Negros Oriental, and Reymundo Lagman Busog, 45, single, a former soldier temporarily residing in Bayawan City, Negros Oriental but a native of Barangay Nazareth, General Tinio in Nueva Ecija.
They were accosted by personnel of the Sta. Catalina Police Station and 705th Regional Force Mobile Company-7 at around 1:15 a.m. in a Commission on Elections (Comelec) checkpoint along the national highway in Poblacion, Sta. Catalina.
The two were on board an XRM 125 motorcycle when flagged down at the checkpoint. During a subsequent inspection, the police found a hand grenade in Moleño’s possession.
Following a thorough investigation, police authorities released the former soldier after he was found to be just a “plain back rider” while Moleño remained in police custody for violation of Comelec gun ban and RA 9516 or illegal possession of explosives. (PNA)
