14 GUARDS ARRESTED FOR TRESPASSING, ILLEGAL POSSESSION OF GUNS

October 10, 2022 Metro BLISTT

BAGUIO CITY –Combined police operatives successfully arrested fourteen security guards of a Manila-based security agency for alleged trespassing, forcible entry and illegal possession of firearms and ammunitions after they illegally occupied the cottage of the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) inside the Baguio Animal Breeding and Research Center (BABRC) at Purok 1, Dontogan, here, early Friday morning.

However, Police Col. Francisco Bulwayan, newly installed City Director of the Baguio City Police Office
(BCPO), declined to provide the identities of the arrested security guards pending the filing of the appropriate charges against them before the city prosecutor’s office. Probers disclosed that around 10 am of October 4, 2022, 16 security guards of the 8 Dragons Elite Security Agency, Inc. based in Quezon
City allegedly forcible entered the closed premises of the property owned by the Department of Agriculture Cordillera (DA-CAR) situated at the BABRC without the consent of the agency and despite several no trespassing signages that were posted in the forested area.

The point of entry of the 16 security guards led by their operations manager was the concrete perimeter fence owned by Isla Land Developers, Inc. based at Phase 5, Green Valley Village. Some portions of the
concrete fence as reportedly partially damaged with still undetermined value. Once inside the government property, the security guards allegedly forcibly occupied the old BPI cottage by destroying the padlock of the said cottage.

The guards told investigators that a certain mark Andrew Bandoc Directo, 38 and a resident of Moldex
Residences, Marcos highway, Bakakeng Central, Baguio city allegedly hired the services of the agency purposely to secure his parcel of land covered by Transfer Certificate of Title (TCT) which is located within the subject area .However, DA-CAR legal counsel Lorelie Vargas argued that the disputed area is actually owned by the agency and it is still under litigation in court.

She added that DA-CAR hired Baguio’s Finest Security Agency that deployed security guards
to secure the property since 2014. One of the representatives of 8 Dragons Elite Security Agency submitted to the police on October 6, 2022 a copy of the termination of the contract between the agency and their client. At around 5:45 am of October 7, 2022, the caretaker of the BPI cottage called the BCPO Station No. 10 informing the authorities that the same is still being used by the individuals that forcibly
entered the said property without the consent of the agency.

Acting on the said information at around 6:15 am of the same date, combined police operatives
proceeded to the area and arrested the armed guards. Two of the arrested guards surrendered to the authorities 1 .9mm pistol inserted with 1 magazine containing 8 live ammunitions and 1 caliber .38 revolver with 5 live ammunitions which were used by their group as their service firearms.

The guards were not able to show to the authorities the pertinent documents to own and possess the said firearms. Charges of trespassing, forcible entry and violation of Republic Act (RA) 1059 or the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunitions Law are being readied against the arrested guards.

Dexter A. See