A GOVERNMENT employee and a barangay tanod were arrested over the weekend for allegedly attempting to rob a businessman in Cauayan.

The suspects were allegedly members of a robbery and gun-for-hire group.

The police arrested Eduard Acopan, a 34-year-old municipal employee and resident of Hinigaran, and Gerald Batoy, a 32-year-old barangay tanod and resident of Himamaylan City.

Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office Director Romeo Baleros said both Acopan and Batoy are reportedly members of the Epogon robbery and gun-for-hire group.

Baleros said the two are also responsible for a string of robbery incidents in the town of Cauayan and in Sipalay City.

The suspects were arrested by members of the Cauayan Municipal Police Station and soldiers from the 15th Infantry Battalion.

Baleros said local police received information that the suspects were planning to target a local businessman, prompting authorities to conduct an operation against the two.

Cops recovered two caliber .45 pistols with several rounds of ammunition and a fragmentation grenade.

Baleros said they are now investigating the two suspects, as they strongly believe that the two were also responsible for the recent robbery incidents in Bago City.

The two are facing charges of illegal possession of firearms and explosives and are presently detained at the Cauayan Municipal Police Station.