Masbate mayor, vice mayor face raps over arms cache

Authorities also recovered an M16 Bushmaster rifle, two 12-gauge shotguns, a .45-caliber Colt pistol, three .38-caliber revolvers without serial numbers and a hand grenade. (Pixabay file photo)

MANILA — A Masbate town mayor and his vice mayor father has been charged by law enforcement authorities before the Department of Justice (DOJ) for allegedly maintaining an arsenal believed to be used by their private army.

Batuan Mayor Charmax Yuson and his father, Vice Mayor Charlie Yuson III, were charged Thursday before the DOJ by the Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) Masbate Provincial Field Unit.

Seized from the house of the mayor was an armalite rifle and a fragmentation grenade.

Authorities also recovered an M16 Bushmaster rifle, two 12-gauge shotguns, a .45-caliber Colt pistol, three .38-caliber revolvers without serial numbers and a hand grenade.

The Yusons were not present during the operation. Authorities arrested at the resort the vice mayor’s security guard, Jeason Clemente, 24, who was armed with a shotgun.

The PNP has already verified that only the mayor has firearms licenses and permits for a shotgun, two Glock pistols and a UDMC S5-PVAR rifle.

Under the complaint, the Yusons are accused of illegal possession of firearms and ammunition in violation of Section 28, paragraph (a) of Republic Act 10591, the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunitions Regulation Act.

The raids were conducted while serving a search warrant issued by Executive Judge Virgilio Macaraig of the Manila Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 37.