AROUND 23 security guards who were allegedly hired to harass landowners in Purok Tambis in Barangay Umapad, Mandaue City were placed in custody by operatives of the National Bureau of Investigation-Central Visayas (NBI 7) on Monday, April 25, 2022.

Arnel Pura, NBI 7 special investigator, said they conducted a hot-pursuit operation against the 23 security guards of Meniroses Security Agency Inc. after they received a complaint from one of the landowners living in an eight-hectare property Purok Tambis.

The landowner said the suspects were hired by a claimant to harass them.

During their operation, the NBI 7 operatives confiscated 21 unlicensed firearms -- 11 revolver pistols and 10 shotguns -- from the security guards.

But Pura clarified that they had not yet arrested the security guards but they were only invited for questioning.

Pura said they had received information from the Department of Justice that one of the landowners filed a complaint against the security firm for allegedly harassing them and preventing them from entering the disputed property.

The security firm was reportedly contracted by the claimant who claimed the eight-hectare land back in October 2020.

Pura said the security guards could face charges of grave threats, illegal possession of firearms, and violation of the election gun ban.