Police seizes illegal drugs, guns, ammo from Badoc exec, siblings’ homes

Some of the items seized during the raid (INPPO photos)

By Leilanie G. Adriano

Staff reporter

Badoc, Ilocos Norte—Police seized over 10 grams of illegal drugs, assorted firearms and live ammos from the house of Badoc Mayor Arlene Torralba and husband, Badoc Vice Mayor Thomas Torralba, including the vice mayor’s two brothers in a separate search warrant operations held June 15.

Led by P/Sr. Supt. Albert Ocon, acting provincial director of the Ilocos Norte Police Provincial Office (INPPO), INPPO operatives and the Regional Public Safety Battalion (RBSB) conducted simultaneous search warrant operations in at least four houses owned by the Torralbas located at Brgys. Garreta, Ologoog and Saud, all in this town.

At 3:30 am on Monday, June 15, Mr. Ocon said police teams were dispersed at the Camp Valentin S. Juan, Laoag City as they headed to the subjects of search warrant operations.

“We are now preparing for the documents required for the inquest proceedings and file charges against them,” Mr. Ocon said citing an M16 armalite rifle with at least two magazines was recovered from the vice mayor. Said rifle has expired licensed upon verification from Camp Crame.

Aside from the Torralbas’ house, two houses of the vice mayor’s brothers owned by Henry and Sesenando Torralba at Brgy. Alogoog including a farm house of the Torralbas in the coastal barangay of Saud were also searched.

At the Torralba farm house, authorities recovered a total of 1,590 pieces of assorted live ammos or 20 boxes of 7.62 mm, and 17 boxes of 5.56 mm.

At least two 9 mm pistol and more than 10 grams of shabu were also seized at the house of Henry Torralba while live ammos of 9 mm were recovered from Sesenando Torralba.

According to Mr. Ocon, there are about 11 firearms which are included in the list of the search warrant operation.

“Yung iba, may mga sampu na long and short firearms ang hindi natin nakuha. So, yung mga nakuha natin ay i-submit natin sa SOCO for comparative or cross matching examination,” Mr. Ocon explained.

When asked to comment, the vice mayor told Mr. Ocon that he is a member of a gun club and a firearms enthusiast.

He added the PNP Investigation branch has applied for search warrant operation in Pangasinan to ensure that the police operation will not be compromised considering the vice mayor’s political influence in the province.

“Alam naman natin na kapag nag-a-apply tayo ng search warrant operation sa isang korte, baka naman may connection o kaibigan si vice at makakarating ito sa kanya,” he disclosed.

Earlier, the Badoc vice mayor has been accused of indiscriminate firing near the residence of provincial tourism officer Ianree Raquel, which prompted Ilocos Norte Governor Ma. Imelda “Imee” R. Marcos to alert the police about the incident.

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