A SECURITY guard and two others were arrested in separate operations by the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) at the Bacolod City Government Center.
CIDG-Bacolod Head Ray Cuanico identified the suspects as security guard Raffy Magbanua, 24, and his friend Joseph Comahig, 28, both residents of Sipalay City, Negros Occidental.
Magbanua was arrested on Thursday, May 18, after he sold an M16 rifle with a magazine loaded with 25 rounds of live ammunition placed in a sack to a police agent for P500.
Comahig was apprehended when he was seen by police operatives waiting for Magbanua inside a rented van.
Cuanico said the firearm was probably owned by Comahig, a former security guard in a mining firm in Sipalay City, and he asked Magbanua to sell it.
The recovered firearm, which was a government issue, costs P75,000, Cuanico said.
The firearm was brought to the Firearms, Explosives, and Security Agency Group Services at the Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office for license verification.
Charges for violation of Republic Act 10591 or the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act were filed yesterday against both suspects, who are detained at the CIDG-Bacolod office.
Last Monday, Eduardo Bascos, 27, of Barangay Mansilingan, was also arrested by operatives of CIDG-Negros Occidental after he was caught in possession of a .45 caliber pistol and a .45 caliber colt with ammunition.