Gun Ban Enforcement Yields Illegal Firearm In Anti-Drug Operation
By: Nida Grace P. Barcena
TANDAG CITY, Surigao del Sur -- anti-illegal drugs and loose firearm operation led by the Cortes Municipal Police Station (MPS) and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) Surigao del Sur seized a .45 caliber pistol and illegal drugs in Purok Bayabas, Barangay Burgos, Cortes, Surigao del Sur, early Thursday. The operation aligns with the intensified enforcement of the COMELEC gun ban under Resolution 11067 and the ongoing campaign against illegal firearms and drugs.
PCOL Harry B. Domingo, provincial director, identified the suspect as a.k.a. “Gildo,” a 32-year-old farmer and newly identified street-level individual (SLI) in the illegal drug trade. The search warrant, issued by the Regional Trial Court, 11th Judicial Region, Branch 41 in Cantilan, was executed at the suspect’s residence on March 27, 2025, at approximately 1:50 AM. However, the suspect managed to evade arrest upon sensing the operatives’ presence.#
In a report, authorities confiscated the following items:
- One (1) heat-sealed plastic sachet containing a white crystalline substance suspected as shabu (0.09 grams, estimated value P612;
- One (1) caliber .45 pistol;
- Two (2) magazines for caliber
.45 pistol;
- Fourteen (14) live ammunition for
caliber .45 pistol;
- One (1) live ammunition for an
M16 rifle;
- Two (2) live ammunition for
.22 caliber firearm;
- Assorted drug paraphernalia,
including improvised tools and lighters
- Other miscellaneous personal items.
The search and seizure were conducted in an orderly manner in the presence of the suspect’s wife, a barangay kagawad of Burgos, and a DOJ representative. Confiscated items were brought to Cortes MPS for proper documentation and disposition.
“This operation underscores the effectiveness of our joint law enforcement efforts in ensuring public safety, particularly during the election period. By enforcing the gun ban and cracking down on illegal drugs, we reaffirm our commitment to upholding the law and preventing violence in our communities,” said PCOL Domingo.
Authorities continue to pursue the suspect, while further investigations are underway to track down other individuals potentially linked to illegal drug activities and firearms possession. (Photo courtesy of SDS PPO/NGPB, PIA-Surigao del Sur)
