SAN FRANCISCO, Agusan del Sur — Agents of the National Bureau of Investigation–National Capital Region (NBI-NCR) searched the residence of Barobo Mayor Ronito Martizano in Barangay Hubang, San Francisco, Agusan del Sur, on Wednesday morning, September 23, 2026, as part of an investigation into alleged illegal possession of firearms.
The search, however, reportedly yielded no firearm or ammunition from the mayor’s residence.
The operation was carried out pursuant to Search Warrant No. 370-2026, issued by the Regional Trial Court, 10th Judicial Region, Branch 6 in Prosperidad, Agusan del Sur, for an alleged violation of Section 28(b) of Republic Act No. 10591, or the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act.
According to the warrant provided for the operation, the court found probable cause to believe that a violation of the firearms law had been committed and that Martizano was allegedly in unlawful possession and control of several firearms and an undetermined quantity of ammunition.
The warrant specifically identified the items allegedly being sought as a .45-caliber pistol, a KG9 rifle with folding butt stock and open vault, two rifles of unknown make and caliber, and an undetermined number of live ammunition of different calibers.
The court order authorized law enforcement officers to conduct an immediate daytime search of Martizano’s entire one-storey concrete residence, described in the warrant as having a blue-colored roof, in Purok 2, Barangay Hubang.
Despite the allegations stated in the warrant, reports from the operation said the NBI-NCR agents did not find or seize any firearm or ammunition during the search.
Mayor Says Allegation Was Painful
Martizano reportedly expressed dismay over the search, particularly over the allegation that he was illegally keeping firearms.
He maintained that the search did not result in the discovery of the weapons described in the warrant.
The mayor also reportedly acknowledged that he had been considering acquiring a firearm for personal protection, particularly following an ambush incident in which he was previously victimized. He said, however, that any firearm he might acquire would be properly licensed and legally registered.
The distinction is significant because the search warrant itself was based on alleged unlawful possession, while the reported outcome of the search was that no firearm or ammunition was recovered from the residence.
Mayor Previously Targeted in Ambush
Martizano had reportedly been the target of an ambush in the preceding months, an incident that raised security concerns surrounding the local chief executive.
The mayor has also been vocal in efforts to stop alleged illegal mining operations in Barobo.
His position on illegal mining and the reported security incident involving him provide context to his statement that he had considered obtaining a firearm for self-defense. However, these circumstances do not by themselves establish any connection between the alleged illegal firearm possession cited in the search warrant and the mayor’s reported security concerns.
What the Search Warrant Said
The court document states that NBI-NCR Supervising Agents Atty. Joseph Eufemio S. Martinez and SA Elbert A. Maliwanag, together with two witnesses, were personally examined under oath before the issuance of the warrant.
The court said it was satisfied that probable cause existed to believe a violation of Republic Act No. 10591 had been committed and was being committed.
The warrant then identified Martizano as the person allegedly in possession and control of the firearms and ammunition and specified the residence in Barangay Hubang as the place to be searched.
The allegations contained in a search warrant, however, are not by themselves a finding of guilt. A search warrant authorizes law enforcement to look for specified evidence based on a court’s finding of probable cause; whether an offense was actually committed and whether a person is criminally liable are separate legal questions.
In this case, the reported search outcome is that no firearm or ammunition was found or seized from Martizano’s residence.
Further statements from the NBI or other authorities regarding the operation, including whether the investigation will continue or whether other legal action is being considered, were not included in the information available for this report.