By CESAR JOLITO III

Authorities arrested an alleged holdup and gun-for-hire suspect during an operation in Bacolod City on Wednesday, March 18.

The Bacolod City Police Office said the suspect, identified only by the alias “Pocholo,” was apprehended within the jurisdiction of Police Station 3.

Police described the suspect as a notorious individual allegedly involved in several robbery-holdup incidents across the city.

He was also linked to a recent shooting incident in the same area, according to investigators.

Prior to his arrest, authorities said the suspect had reportedly arranged meetups with individuals he communicated with online, whom he allegedly intended to target for holdup using an undetermined type of firearm.

Further investigation revealed that the suspect has an existing warrant of arrest for violation of Republic Act 9165.

The warrant was issued by Judge Therese Blance Bolunia of the Regional Trial Court Branch 47 in Bacolod.

The suspect is now under police custody while authorities continue to investigate possible links to other criminal activities in the city./CJ, WDJ