ZAMBOANGA CITY – A 24-year-old unmarried man was arrested after authorities seized two firearms and several rounds of ammunition during an anti-criminality operation in Barangay Arena Blanco, Zamboanga City.
The suspect was apprehended during an Oplan Paglalansag Omega buy-bust operation jointly conducted by operatives of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group–Zamboanga Field Unit (CIDG-ZFU), in coordination with the 55th Special Action Battalion of the Philippine National Police-Special Action Force (PNP-SAF), the 904th Maneuver Company of the Regional Mobile Force Battalion 9 (RMFB-9), and other law enforcement units.
Authorities said the operation resulted in the successful arrest of the 24-year-old suspect, whose identity has not yet been publicly disclosed pending the filing of appropriate charges.
Recovered from the suspect’s possession were two different firearms along with several rounds of live ammunition. The confiscated weapons were immediately secured by the operating teams for proper documentation and forensic examination.
The operation forms part of the government’s intensified Oplan Paglalansag Omega, a campaign aimed at dismantling the illegal firearms trade and preventing the proliferation of loose firearms that pose serious threats to public safety and security.
Law enforcement officials emphasized that the successful operation highlights the importance of inter-agency cooperation in combating illegal firearms and reducing the risk of violent crimes in communities across Zamboanga City.
The arrested suspect is now under the custody of the authorities and is expected to face charges for violations of the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act (Republic Act No. 10591), along with other applicable offenses that may arise from the investigation.
Authorities reaffirmed their commitment to sustaining intelligence-driven operations against individuals involved in the illegal possession and trafficking of firearms as part of ongoing efforts to maintain peace and order in the region.