A TOWN official was arrested for illegal possession of firearms and ammunition in the province of Zamboanga Sibugay, the police said Wednesday, July 24.

Police Major Helen Galvez, Police Regional Office-Zamboanga Peninsula information officer, identified the arrested official as Councilor Julius Acosta, Jr., 70, the Liga ng mga Barangay president.

Galvez said Acosta was arrested by policemen around 6:40 p.m. Tuesday inside a billiard hall while conducting mobile patrol and Oplan Bakal Sita in Poblacion village, Siay, Zamboanga Sibugay.

Acosta, a resident of Dacanay village, Siay, was caught in possession of an undocumented caliber .45 pistol with eight live ammunition, she added.

Acosta, who was a former mayor of Siay, is the father of the incumbent Mayor Jarvis Acosta of the same town.

Galvez said the elder Acosta, after duly informed of his constitutional rights and the offense that he committed, was taken to the police headquarters for proper disposition. (Bong Garcia/SunStar Philippines)