2 guards arrested for threatening demolition team
Two security guards of the Big Lens Security Agency owned by businessman Bernie Miaque were arrested yesterday after they pointed their guns to the members of the demolition team. They are now detained at the lock-up cell of the Mandurriao police station.
The two blue guards were identified as Arlan Ruego, chief security of Miaque, and Renante Colonia. Police seized Ruego's .45 caliber pistol and Colonia's shotgun.
Police are still checking the authenticity of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) gun ban exemption presented by Ruego. The exemption was signed by Comelec Commissioner Nicodemo Ferrer.
Ruego was arrested after sheriffs Camelo Divinagracia and Gani Espada saw him pointing his .45 caliber pistol to Jernel Gabion and Ricardo Galves, both members of the demolition team. Colonia, on the other hand, was arrested after he allegedly pointed his shotgun to the demolition team.
The blue guards tried to resist the demolition and protected the editorial office of the Daily Informer. Mandurriao police chief Senior Insp. Orly Gabinete led the arrest of the two guards.
Meanwhile, Ronnie Miaque, operations officer of Bernie's Group of Companies, said they will assist their blue guards in whatever charges they are going to face. He also viewed yesterday's implementation of the writ of demolition as "pure harassment."
He tried to ask the sheriffs to temporarily hold the demolition until a geodetic surveyor determines the 800 square meters covered in the writ of demolition. But his request was ignored by the sheriffs.
Miaque said they do not resist the implementation of the order. He said they only want to determine the area and account all their properties to ensure that those that will be demolished are included in the order.
He said the demolition of their properties will affect some 200 people working in their restaurant, porterage and newspaper business.
Miaque said they will seek legal remedies to question the "hasty demolition."