BACOLOD City — Officers of the Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) arrested three suspects and seized several firearms and ammunition in a late-night follow-up operation linked to a shooting incident in Barangay 22, this city, on March 13.
Police operatives conducted a hot pursuit operation around 11:30 p.m. the same day at a boarding house in Barangay 20, leading to the arrest of three men identified only by their aliases “Jer,” 23; “Jon,” of legal age, both residents of Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental; and “Junjun,” 34, a resident of Barangay 22, Bacolod City.
The arrests came hours after a shooting incident at around 7 p.m. at Purok Bagong-Hilway corner Rizal–Hilado Streets in Barangay 22.
According to the Police Regional Office–Negros Island Region (PRO-NIR), the suspects were tracked down following information provided by a concerned citizen who reported their presence inside a compound in Barangay 20.
Personnel from Police Station 1 conducted surveillance in the area and observed one of the suspects inside the premises allegedly holding a firearm in a ready position.
When officers identified themselves and called out to the occupants, another suspect reportedly shouted a warning, prompting operatives to immediately enter the compound and arrest the three men.
Initial investigation revealed that the victim in the shooting incident served as caretaker of the compound where the suspects had been staying.
Police said there had been previous arguments between the caretaker and the suspects after the victim repeatedly asked them to vacate the area and transfer to another boarding house. The dispute had earlier been brought before the barangay for mediation.
During the operation, authorities recovered multiple firearms and ammunition from the suspects.
Seized from Jer were an unidentified firearm with a magazine inserted, a magazine loaded with eight rounds of .9mm ammunition, 57 additional live .9mm rounds, two ammunition boxes, a karambit knife, and other items including a fired .38-caliber cartridge.
Meanwhile, confiscated from Jon were a revolver loaded with five live rounds, 23 live rounds of caliber .38 ammunition, a fired cartridge of the same caliber, a gun holster, and a sling bag.
The suspects and the seized firearms were turned over to the Philippine National Police Scene of the Crime Operatives (SOCO) for gunpowder residue testing, ballistics examination, and serviceability testing as part of the ongoing investigation.
The PRO-NIR commended the swift response and coordination of BCPO personnel, noting that prompt police action is crucial in preventing further violence and ensuring that suspects involved in criminal activities are immediately brought to justice./PN
