Capiz police arrest two in gun, drug cases

By Felipe V. Celino

ROXAS CITY, Capiz — Two men were arrested in separate police operations in Capiz for alleged possession of unlicensed firearms, with one of them also caught with suspected shabu.

In Dao, Capiz, police arrested a 47-year-old businessman Wednesday morning, June 10, for allegedly possessing an unlicensed firearm in Barangay Matagnop.

Police identified the suspect only as alias Dodong, a resident of the village.

The operation was carried out through a search warrant implemented by the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group as the lead unit, together with the Dao Municipal Police Station, Provincial Intelligence Team-Capiz, Regional Intelligence Unit 6 and Capiz Provincial Police Office’s Provincial Intelligence Unit.

Police recovered a .45-caliber pistol, one magazine and 23 rounds of ammunition for the same firearm from the suspect.

The search warrant was issued June 9 by Judge Lorenzito B. Diaz of the Regional Trial Court Branch 17 in Roxas City.

Dodong is under the custody of CIDG-Capiz.

Charges for violation of Republic Act 10591, or the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act, have been prepared against him.

In Pontevedra, Capiz, a 21-year-old unemployed man was arrested again Tuesday evening, June 9, for allegedly possessing an unlicensed firearm and suspected illegal drugs at Sitio Camarin in Barangay Binuntucan.

Police identified the suspect only as alias Mark of Barangay Tabuc, Pontevedra.

Authorities said a concerned citizen informed police that the suspect was carrying a handgun.

Responding police officers allegedly caught Mark carrying a .38-caliber revolver with no serial number and loaded with three rounds of ammunition.

Police also recovered six heat-sealed transparent plastic sachets of suspected shabu weighing around 30 grams.

The suspected shabu had an estimated street value of PHP 204,000.

Mark is under the custody of the Pontevedra Municipal Police Station.

Charges for violation of RA 10591 and Republic Act 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, will be filed against him.

Capt. Mark Anthony Garcia, Pontevedra police chief, said the suspect had been jailed several times after he was arrested in 2022 and 2025 in the National Capital Region for theft-related cases.

Garcia said background verification also showed that the suspect had been arrested for violation of RA 9165 in 2023 and 2025.

RA 10591 regulates the ownership, possession and carrying of firearms and ammunition, while RA 9165 penalizes the possession, sale and distribution of dangerous drugs, including shabu.