Map of Pampanga. INQUIRER FILES
ANGELES CITY — Police manning a 24-hour checkpoint at Bacolor town in Pampanga province arrested two men after they were found carrying an undocumented firearm before dawn on Sunday, October 20.
The Pampanga police said the Bacolor policemen received information from a concerned citizen that two men, who were riding a motorcycle without a license plate, were acting suspiciously.
Later, police at a checkpoint flagged down the two men and searched them.
“Upon stopping the suspects, police found that the driver lacked a valid driver’s license and the motorcycle was unregistered. Further inspection led to the discovery of a .45 caliber firearm with live ammunition in the driver’s possession, without any proper document, resulting in the immediate arrest of both individuals,” the police said in a statement.
Both men were taken to the Bacolor police station for documentation and to check if they had previous criminal records.
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As of Sunday afternoon, police said the driver is facing charges for illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition under the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act (Republic Act 10591) but the other rider is yet to be charged and might be released if no police record against him would be found.
The police likewise arrested a 49-year-old man after two handguns and live bullets were found in his residence during the service of a search warrant in nearby Magalang town on Friday, October 18.
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The search warrant, issued by Angeles City Executive Judge Eda Dizon of Regional Trial Court Branch 60, was for violation of RA 10591.
The search allegedly resulted in the seizure of a .45 caliber pistol with a magazine loaded with six live bullets, a .380 caliber pistol with seven rounds of live bullets, extra magazines and dozens of rounds of ammunition for the two guns, and a fragmentation hand grenade.
Newly installed Police Regional Office 3 director Brigadier General Redrico Maranan lauded the team for its successful operation, saying the police will continue to conduct activities against loose firearms and armed groups in the Central Luzon.