BACOLOD City – A village chief in Victorias City, Negros Occidental, was arrested after authorities seized an unlicensed firearm, ammunition, and a hand grenade during the implementation of a court-issued search warrant on July 17.
The suspect, identified only by the alias “Gar,” 54, a barangay chairman of Barangay 12, is now under the custody of the Victorias City Police Station while criminal charges are being prepared against him.
According to the Police Regional Office–Negros Island Region (PRO-NIR), the operation was launched following information from a concerned citizen alleging that the village official was keeping an unlicensed firearm.
Personnel of the Victorias City Police Station, in coordination with the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) Negros Occidental Provincial Field Unit and the Regional Mobile Force Battalion, conducted surveillance and confirmed that the suspect was not a licensed firearm holder.
Based on the verification, authorities secured a search warrant for alleged violations of Republic Act (RA) No. 10591, or the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act, and RA No. 9516, which penalizes the illegal possession and manufacture of explosives.
During the search of the suspect’s residence, police recovered a caliber .22 revolver loaded with six rounds of ammunition, 63 additional rounds of caliber .22 ammunition, and a hand grenade.
Police Brig. Gen. Romano Cardiño, director of PRO-NIR, said the operation highlights the police force’s continuing campaign against loose firearms and illegal explosives.
“The recovery of an unlicensed firearm, ammunition, and an explosive device through the lawful implementation of a search warrant demonstrates our unwavering commitment to protecting communities from potential threats. PRO-NIR will continue to intensify intelligence-driven operations and ensure that individuals who violate our firearms and explosives laws are held accountable,” Cardiño said.
PRO-NIR said it will continue strengthening intelligence gathering and law enforcement operations under its SAFE NIR program to curb the proliferation of loose firearms, illegal explosives, and other forms of criminality across the Negros Island Region./PN
