Search warrant operations conducted by police led to the arrest of two suspects and the seizure of unlicensed firearms, ammunition, and illegal drugs in Negros Occidental and Negros Oriental, the Philippine National Police Negros Island Region (PRO NIR) reported Friday, June 5.
In Cadiz City, Negros Occidental, joint operatives from the Cadiz City Police Station, Negros Occidental Provincial Police Office (NOcPPO), and the Regional Intelligence Unit (RIU NIR) raided a residence in Hacienda Tagud, Barangay Luna, on Thursday, June 4.
The operation, launched by virtue of a search warrant for violations of Republic Act 10591 (Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act), resulted in the arrest of a 41-year-old construction worker identified only as alias “Rust.”
Police initiated the raid after validating a tip from a confidential informant that the suspect was using unlicensed firearms for illegal activities.
Surveillance and firearms verification confirmed that “Rust” was not a licensed gun holder, a police report said.
During the search, which was recorded on body-worn cameras to ensure transparency, authorities recovered an improvised 5.56 mm caliber pistol loaded with a live round, two additional rounds of 5.56 mm ammunition, and three heat-sealed transparent plastic sachets containing suspected shabu.
Various drug paraphernalia, including a bamboo-tong, an improvised needle, and a bundle of empty plastic sachets, were also seized.
Meanwhile, on Friday, June 5, operatives of the Pamplona Municipal Police Station in Negros Oriental arrested another suspect in Barangay Abante.
The suspect, identified as 53-year-old alias “Ger,” was targeted by police after a concerned citizen reported that he had allegedly pointed a firearm at another individual during a land dispute.
Following surveillance and verification that the suspect held no valid firearm license, operatives secured and served a search warrant.
The raid yielded a .45 caliber pistol, a magazine loaded with two live rounds, two additional pieces of .45 caliber ammunition, and a black sling bag, the police reported.*
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