Negros Oriental police have filed complaints for illegal possession of firearms and ammunition against two individuals under investigation for possible ties to “guns-for-hire” following their arrest in Barangay Banilad in Dumaguete City.
Lt. Stephen Polinar, spokesperson of the Negros Oriental Police Provincial Office (NOrPPO), told the Philippine News Agency yesterday that a complaint for grave threat was also filed against one of the suspects after they were arrested on Tuesday afternoon, November 11.
The operation stemmed from the report of residents in Purok Balaanong Tubig in Barangay Banilad on the presence of armed men in their community, with one of the suspects allegedly threatening a resident.
Polinar said a barangay official called for police assistance after the suspects were seen allegedly carrying firearms.
“The city police are investigating a possible connection between these suspects [and] other individuals who were arrested earlier in the province who were suspected guns-for-hire,” Polinar said.
They did not say what their business was in the province and were uncooperative with the police investigation.
Responding police recovered from the first suspect a caliber 5.56 mm. pistol, eight pieces of cartridge, one pair of handcuffs, a sling bag, and assorted personal belongings.
The second suspect yielded two caliber .45 pistols, 14 cartridges, two magazines, three cellphones, and a pouch containing identification cards, a driver’s license, gift cards, and debit cards.
The suspects failed to present documents, such as licenses for the firearms and ammunition.
Polinar said a third companion had arrived in Dumaguete with the two suspects on October 26 but returned to Mindanao days later.
The suspects are from Zamboanga City and Ozamis City in Misamis Occidental.
Meanwhile, police operatives arrested the Most Wanted Person in Dumaguete at noon yesterday.
The 24-year-old suspect was a parking attendant and a resident of Barangay Calindagan.
He was arrested by virtue of a court warrant relative to a case filed against him for violation of Republic Act 10591, or the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act.
Bail was set at P120,000 for his temporary liberty. (PNA)