CAMP BGEN OSCAR M FLORENDO, La Union – The former mayor of Cabugao, Ilocos Sur, and 17 other accused have voluntarily surrendered to the police due to the illegal detention charge filed against them in court.
Police Brigadier General Rodolfo S Azurin Jr., regional director of the Police Regional Office 1 (PRO-1) here, said on Sunday that former Cabugao Mayor Josh Edward Cobangbang, together with Atty. Arvin Manibo Manaois, 28 and Engr. Crescencio Concepcion Marcos, 52, surrendered to the regional police office on Friday, August 14.
The surrender of the former mayor came one week after the voluntary surrender of 15 other co-accused for the same charge in court.
Cobangbang and 19 municipal employees under his term were accused of serious illegal detention and grave coercion for allegedly detaining a resort operator and several employees during the closure of the resort.
The case was filed February last year, and the warrant of arrest for the crime of serious illegal detention and grave coercion against the former mayor and 19 others was issued by Judge Gemma P Bucayu-Madrid, Executive Judge, RTC Branch 12, Sanchez Mira, Cagayan dated October 22, 2019.
Azurin lauded the different police units in Ilocos Sur, led by P/Colonel Ronald Tagao, for the execution of the warrant of arrest.
“This is a manifestation that your police is doing all its efforts to apprehend those who transgressed the law,” he said.
As part of the health protocol, the former mayor and the two of the accused will undergo 14-day quarantine at Camp Florendo and will undergo swab test on Monday.
Meanwhile, the 15 others who consecutively surrendered on August 6 and 7, 2020 were the following: Katrina Cruz Soriano, 33; Raquel Somera Ancheta, 51; Ednalyn Sabaten Silario, 46;Jessar Rei Siababa Cruz, 24; Constancia Lazo Quinola,61; Humprey Savellano Catriz, 39; Jerly Oda Manantan Flores, 24; Benny Sardeng Agbayani, 26; Kevin Segui Somera, 34; Austin Giorgio Soller Serna, 25; Alvin Silario Solis, 30;Ronillo Somera Santigo, 51 Renato Sabugo Roman, 57; Rexor Moisis Cruz Abara, 26; and Richard Siruno Pula, 48.
“Let us sustain the momentum and work hand-in-hand to bring our anti-criminality efforts successful to encourage a progressive community to live, work, sustain and do business,” said Azurin as an appeal to all wanted persons to surrender and submit themselves to the judicial processes prescribed by law.