BONGAO, Tawi-Tawi — Police arrested three individuals and recovered five high-powered firearms, along with a pistol reportedly stolen from a Philippine Coast Guard personnel, during a law enforcement operation in Barangay Pababag, Bongao, on November 7, 2026.
The operation was carried out by personnel of the Bongao Municipal Police Station (MPS), led by PLTCOL Roy R. Zantua, in coordination with the 1405th Maneuver Company of the Regional Mobile Force Battalion (RMFB), under PLT Wilfred Barte.
Authorities recovered five high-powered firearms consisting of two M16 rifles and three M14 rifles. They also seized a Glock 19 pistol, which was reportedly stolen from a member of the Philippine Coast Guard.
The recovery of the firearms represents a significant development in local law enforcement efforts to address the proliferation of illegally possessed weapons in the province. The presence of unregistered or unlawfully acquired firearms remains a public safety concern, particularly because such weapons can potentially be used in criminal activities and contribute to violence in communities.
Tawi-Tawi Police Provincial Office (TTPPO) Provincial Director PCOL Byron F. Allatog said the operation forms part of the police force’s continuing campaign against illegal firearms, aimed at preventing violence and strengthening peace and security across the province.
Allatog also urged residents to cooperate with law enforcement authorities by providing information about individuals or activities involving illegal firearms and promptly reporting relevant information to the police.
However, authorities have yet to release the identities of the three arrested individuals, the specific circumstances surrounding their arrest, and whether formal charges have already been filed against them.
Further details on the operation and the legal status of the recovered firearms are also necessary to establish the full circumstances of the case.
The police operation underscores the continuing efforts of security forces in Tawi-Tawi to remove illegally possessed weapons from communities and prevent them from becoming instruments of violence.