REP. Arthur Celeste of the First District vowed to resign from his post if a document can be presented that his office officially issued firearms to barangay chairmen as alleged in a sworn affidavit presented during a press conference called by Alaminos Mayor Hernani Braganza last September 25.

Celeste, in his own press conference at Star Plaza Hotel on October 3, reiterated an earlier statement that he did not issue any firearm to barangay chairmen in the first district.

An affidavit supposedly executed by one barangay head named Celeste as the source of a Caliber 45 pistol used in a crime that happened in Bani town last year wherein a resident of Alaminos was killed.

“Kung meron mang mga barangay officials na nanghingi sa atin ng financial assistance in the form of cash at hindi naman natin alam kung san nila ginamit ang cash na yun, baka yung kapitan na yon pinambili ng .45 na hindi ko alam,” Celeste said.

Barangay Chairman Rico Aquino of San Miguel, Bani executed an affidavit on September 10, 2007 stating that the Caliber .45 pistol (an Armscor with SN 1046871), registered under his name, and was used in the killing of Gabriel Viray Bautista, was issued by Celeste in December 2006.

Bautista, 39, a male nurse of the Western Pangasinan District Hospital and a native of Lucap, Alaminos City, was shot to death in Barangay Enerangan, Bani when accosted by Aquino, Barangay Chairman Marcelo Tugas of barangay Garreta, Councilman Donald Sison, also of San Migueland Sonny Avelino, former barangay chairman of Ambaaay tagged as suspects.

Of the four, Avelino remains at-large while the rest have surrendered to the police.

Celeste said he received unverified information that the three barangay officials still in the custody of the 106th Police Mobile Group were coerced or forced to sign the affidavit naming him as the source of the firearm.

At the same time, Celeste, a political ally of Governor Amado Espino Jr., expressed his support for the shotgun-for-barangay captain program of the provincial government and took Braganza to task for rejecting the program.

With Celeste at the press conference were Labrador Mayor Domingo Doctor and some of the barangay chairmen of Alaminos who refused to return the issued shotguns unless the governor recalls these himself.

The kapitans from Alaminos said they would rather part with their utility vehicle, rather than return the shotguns issued by the governor but added that Braganza must return to them their share of P180,000 for the cost of the vehicle.

“I support this program because I was a barangay captain for 13years sa aking barangay sa Bolinao and I know what is happening on the ground,” Celeste said.

He said he sees nothing wrong in the issuance of shotguns to kapitans, firstly because they are responsible persons and secondly it is their responsibility to safeguard their barangays.

The congressman believes the shotgun could boost the morale of barangay official while leading night patrols to secure their constituents from trouble-makers.

Taking a dig on Braganza, Celeste said if only the latter would have served as barangay chairman like him, he (Braganza) would not have second thoughts of supporting “the very good program of Espino”.

At the same time, he wondered why members of the Public Order and Safety Office (POSO) of Alaminos City were making rounds in the city with long firearms on hand.

“Wala sigurong pinagka-iba ang barangay captain sa POSO. Mas mayroon pa silang (barangay captains) karapatan humawak ng shotgun because they are elected by the people. Under the Philippine laws, they are allowed to own and carry guns,” Celeste said.—LM

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