By MERLINDA A. PEDROSA

A 53-year-old man was arrested for possessing an unlicensed firearm during a search warrant operation at Barangay Abante in Negros Oriental’s Pamplona town on June 5.

Police identified the suspect as alias “Ger,” a resident of the village.

Lt. Colonel Joem Malong, Police Regional Office in the Negros Island Region’s public information office chief, said the municipal police received a complaint from a concerned citizen that “Ger” allegedly pointed a firearm at another person due to a land dispute.

He said the operatives conducted casing and surveillance operations to validate the complaint, including verification, which later revealed that the suspect is not a licensed firearm holder.

Recovered from the suspect were one .45 caliber pistol, one magazine loaded with two live rounds of ammunition, two pieces of live ammunition from a caliber .45 pistol, and a sling bag.

The suspect is detained under police custody and will be charged with violation of Republic Act 10591, or the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act./MAP, WDJ