BACOLOD City – An entrapment operation against a suspected illegal arms trade in Escalante City, Negros Occidental resulted in the arrest two barangay officials and an alleged buyer from Canlaon City, Negros Oriental.
Various firearms and ammunition were recovered during the police operation at around 7 p.m. Wednesday in Purok Azucena, Barangay Old Escalante.
Arrested were the following:
* Barangay Kagawad Leslie Cruz Lamayo, 49, of Purok Azucena, Barangay Old Poblacion, Escalante City, Negros Occidental
* Barangay Kagawad Rollie Sasa Jaena, 49, of Barangay Andres Bonifacio, Sagay City, Negros Occidental
* Luvismin Narvasa Bautista, 55, of Barangay Aquino, Canlaon City, Negros Oriental
Seized during the operation were the following:
* an Armscor .45 pistol
* a .9mm KG-9 (serial no. 835152)
* a TCM .22 rifle (serial no. 012318)
* another Armscor .45 pistol (serial no. LCD014583)
* two magazines for a .9mm
* two magazines for a .22
* three magazines for a .45
* seven live bullets for a .22
* nine live bullets for a .45
* two magazine pouches
* three holster
* two silencers
All three suspects were detained at the Escalante City police station. They face charges of violation of Republic Act 10591, or the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act.
Officers from the Escalante City and Sagay City police stations and the Provincial Intelligence Unit of the Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office staged the entrapment./PN
