PAGADIAN CITY, Zamboanga del Sur — Police arrested a man identified by the alias “Pahak” less than 11 hours after an 18-year-old scrap metal collector was shot in the abdomen in Pagadian City, resulting in the recovery of a .38-caliber revolver and two sachets of a substance suspected to be shabu.
The shooting occurred at about 12:40 a.m. on August 13, 2026, at Purok Kawayan, Sitio Nazareth, Barangay Buenavista, Pagadian City, according to the Zamboanga del Sur Police Provincial Office.
The 18-year-old victim, who was identified as a scrap metal collector, sustained a gunshot wound to the abdomen. Police said the victim was in stable condition following the incident.
Authorities immediately launched a hot pursuit operation to locate the suspected assailant. Their efforts led to the arrest of the suspect at exactly 10:47 a.m. on the same day, at Purok Paglaum, Barangay Santa Lucia, Pagadian City.
The arrest came less than 11 hours after the shooting, allowing police to quickly take a person allegedly linked to the incident into custody.
During the operation, police recovered from the suspect a .38-caliber revolver loaded with five live rounds of ammunition. Also seized were two heat-sealed sachets containing a white crystalline substance suspected to be shabu.
The suspect and the confiscated items were brought to the Pagadian City Police Station for proper documentation and disposition. The seized sachets will undergo laboratory examination by the Zamboanga del Sur Provincial Forensic Unit to determine the nature and identity of the substance.
The recovery of the firearm and ammunition is expected to form part of the ongoing investigation into the shooting, while the forensic examination will establish whether the confiscated substance is indeed an illegal drug.
Police have not disclosed further details regarding the circumstances that led to the shooting, including the motive, pending the continuing investigation.
The Zamboanga del Sur Police Provincial Office commended the personnel involved in the operation for their swift response, coordination and pursuit that resulted in the suspect’s arrest and the recovery of the firearm and suspected illegal drugs.
The PNP reiterated its commitment to maintaining peace and security, pursuing individuals suspected of violating the law, and ensuring that those found responsible for criminal acts are subjected to the appropriate legal process.
The suspect remains in police custody as authorities proceed with the investigation and preparation of the appropriate charges based on the evidence gathered.
As in all criminal cases, the suspect is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.