POLICE arrested three persons for allegedly carrying illegal explosives, weapons, and drugs in MacArthur, Leyte Tuesday, July 30, 2019.

Authorities identified the suspects as Lito Mediona, 27; Reynaldo Obias, 51; and Esterio Obias, 49.

MacArthur Municipal Police led by Lieutenant Mark Kevin Villares, officer-in-charge, conducted a checkpoint operation that resulted in the arrest of the three suspects around 7 a.m. of July 30.

Initial investigation revealed that a concerned citizen called upon the town's policemen about the suspicious looking persons who were urinating alongside the national highway.

One of them was seen with the gun tucked on his waist, police said.

Police then conducted a checkpoint operation. The operating team then noticed a motorcycle with three riders approaching the checkpoint but it suddenly made a U-turn. The riders also appeared uneasy.

Police chased the suspects who were caught along the Maharlika Highway in Barangay Pongon, MacArthur.

The police confiscated from the three suspects a hand grenade, a caliber .38 revolver with five live ammunition, a 17-inch bladed weapon, and five sachets of substance believed to be shabu (methamphetamine hydrochloride).

The arrested persons and confiscated items were brought to MacArthur Municipal Police Station for proper disposition.

The confiscated illegal drugs will be brought to Philippine National Police Crime Laboratory regional office for qualitative and quantitative examination, police said. (SunStar Philippines)