TUBOD, Lanao del Norte — A 49-year-old farmer was arrested by authorities following the implementation of a search warrant for illegal possession of firearms and ammunition in Barangay Bualan, Tubod, Lanao del Norte, on the morning of June 12, 2026.
The suspect, identified only by the alias “Tor,” a resident of Purok 6, Barangay Bualan, was apprehended during a coordinated law enforcement operation led by the Tubod Municipal Police Station (MPS) with the assistance of personnel from the Lanao del Norte Provincial Police Office (PPO), Regional Intelligence Unit-10 (RIU-10), and the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG).
According to a report from the Tubod MPS, the operation was conducted at around 7:30 a.m. pursuant to a search warrant issued by Judge Richie Gay T. Mendoza, Presiding Judge of the Regional Trial Court Branch 07 in Tubod, Lanao del Norte. The warrant, dated June 5, 2026, was issued in connection with alleged violations of Republic Act No. 10591, otherwise known as the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act.
During the search of the suspect’s residence, authorities recovered a caliber .45 pistol believed to be unlicensed, along with a steel magazine, six live rounds of ammunition, a black firearm holster, and an army-green sling bag.
Police said the confiscated items were properly documented and inventoried in accordance with standard operating procedures before being taken into custody as evidence.
The suspect was immediately placed under police custody and brought to the Tubod Municipal Police Station for booking and documentation. The recovered firearm and other seized items were likewise turned over to investigators for forensic examination and case build-up.
Authorities are now preparing the appropriate charges against the suspect for violation of Republic Act 10591, which regulates the ownership, possession, and carrying of firearms and ammunition in the country.
Police officials emphasized that operations targeting loose and unlicensed firearms remain a key component of ongoing efforts to maintain peace and order and prevent firearm-related crimes in communities across Lanao del Norte.
The arrest forms part of the intensified campaign of the Philippine National Police against illegal firearms, which authorities say pose a significant threat to public safety and are often linked to criminal activities and violent incidents.
As of this writing, the suspect remains detained at the Tubod MPS while legal proceedings are being prepared. Investigators have not yet disclosed whether the confiscated firearm had been used in any previous criminal activity or whether additional individuals may be linked to the case.