MAASIM, Sarangani Province — Authorities confiscated an unlicensed firearm and over half a million pesos worth of suspected smuggled cigarettes following the implementation of a search warrant in Barangay Colon on the morning of March 26, 2026.
Operatives from the Sarangani Police Provincial Office–Provincial Intelligence Branch and Provincial Drug Enforcement Unit (SPPO-PIB/PDEU), under the supervision of Acting Provincial Director PCOL Jerone Orville P. Panganiban, led the operation at around 7:15 a.m. in coordination with the Maasim Municipal Police Station (MPS) and several support units.
The joint team included personnel from the 1204th Regional Mobile Force Battalion 12 (RMFB 12), the Regional Intelligence Division (RID) Tracker Team Foxtrot, the 2nd Company of the Provincial Mobile Force Company (PMFC-SPPO), and the General Santos Maritime Police Station (MARPSTA).
The operation stemmed from Search Warrant No. 07-2026 issued on March 24, 2026, by the Executive Judge of Branch 49 against a suspect identified only as alias “Tope,” a resident of Purok 7, Barrio Site, Barangay Colon. The warrant was issued for alleged violation of Republic Act 10591, or the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act.
Police said the search was carried out in the presence of a municipal councilor and a media representative to ensure transparency and adherence to legal protocols.
Authorities reported that the operation yielded significant results, including the seizure of an estimated ₱616,089.60 worth of cigarettes believed to be illicit. The haul consisted of nine cases of Super Madjoe 57 cigarettes, each containing 80 reams, for a total of 720 reams.
Also recovered from the suspect’s residence were a .45 caliber Norinco pistol with serial number 281769, one magazine, and seven rounds of live ammunition.
An on-site inventory of the confiscated items was conducted in the presence of witnesses, in compliance with standard operating procedures.
The suspect was immediately taken into custody and brought to the Maasim Municipal Police Station along with the seized evidence. Authorities are preparing the appropriate criminal charges against the individual, which may include illegal possession of firearms and potential violations related to the unlawful trade of cigarettes.
Police officials reiterated their commitment to intensifying operations against illegal firearms and smuggling activities in the province, emphasizing the role of coordinated law enforcement efforts in maintaining public safety and order.