Camp BGen Efigenio C Navarro, Calapan City, Oriental Mindoro – Lauro Evangelio Vergara Jr., 42, the alleged suspect of the killing of a couple in Mataas na Kahoy, Batangas, was arrested for gun ban violation in Barangay Sto. Niño, Pinamalayan, Oriental Mindoro on Thursday, April 21, 2022.

Oriental Mindoro Police Provincial Police Office Director Police Colonel RENANTE C CABICO revealed that Vergara, who hails from Barangay Kinalaglagan, Mataas na Kahoy, Batangas, and is implicated in the shooting incident that killed a couple, Ronnie de Torres, 52, and Marilou, 50, on March 26, 2022, was arrested for carrying an unlicensed caliber .45 by combined elements of the Regional Intelligence Team – Batangas of the Regional Intelligence Division of Police Regional Office CALABARZON, under the direct supervision of PCOL NOEL D NUÑEZ, Mataas Na Kahoy Municipal Police Station and Provincial Intelligence Unit of Batangas Police Provincial Office, and 300 AISW of the Philippine Airforce.

Also seized from the suspect’s possession were: four magazines loaded with caliber. 45 ammunition, fifty-eight caliber .45 ammunition, one unit of Black Widow Magnum .22 caliber loaded with 5 rounds of ammunition, one .22 caliber ammunition, two cellular cellphones, a black sling bag, and other paraphernalia.

Vergara is now under the custody of Pinamalayan MPS pending the filing of appropriate charges against him.

The data from the Regional Election Monitoring Action Center (REMAC) revealed that since January 9 of this year, Police Regional Office MIMAROPA, under the leadership of Police Brigadier General SIDNEY SULTAN HERNIA, already arrested 22 individuals for violating the election gun ban.

The MIMAROPA’s top cop reminded everyone to be responsible for ensuring that the firearms they carry are duly-licensed and equipped with gun ban exemption permits.– RPIO MIMAROPA