Tapaz businessman nabbed with shabu, illegal firearms

ROXAS CITY, Capiz — A 47-year-old businessman was arrested while another suspect fled during the implementation of a search warrant Thursday evening, Oct. 1, for alleged possession of unlicensed firearms and illegal drugs in Barangay San Nicolas, Tapaz, Capiz.

The operation was jointly conducted around 10:08 p.m. by the Tapaz Municipal Police Station, led by police chief Maj. Gregg Anthony V. Salbang, and the 604th Maneuver Company of the Regional Mobile Force Battalion 6.

Tapaz police identified the arrested suspect as alias “Padyo,” while alias “Badang,” 21, managed to flee.

Both are residents of the area.

Police said Padyo was listed as a street-level individual.

Police recovered from the suspect a .45-caliber pistol with 11 rounds of ammunition, a 12-gauge long-barreled shotgun loaded with ammunition, a shotshell, a digital weighing scale, a pouch, six sachets of suspected shabu worth PHP 272,000 and several pieces of drug paraphernalia.

The search warrant was issued Sept. 25, 2026, by Regional Trial Court Executive Judge Rommel L. Leonor of Branch 21 in Mambusao, Capiz.

The suspect is under the custody of the Tapaz Municipal Police Station while charges for alleged violations of Republic Act No. 10591, or the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act, and Republic Act No. 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, are being prepared.

Republic Act No. 10591 regulates the ownership and possession of firearms and ammunition, while Republic Act No. 9165 covers offenses involving dangerous drugs.