CAMP TOLENTINO, Bataan—Stepping up their campaign against criminality, the Bataan police scored another major breakthrough Wednesday night with the arrest of three suspects and the seizure of three illegal firearms, bullets, and illegal drugs valued at P469,000.

One of the suspects, identified as Joven Pineda y Cabana, was caught in possession of a caliber .38 revolver with three live rounds and a caliber .22 revolver with two rounds. He is facing charges for violation of Republic Act No. 10591 and the Omnibus Election Code.

Pineda is a resident of Barangay San Francisco 1, Limay, Bataan.

Authorities said the arrest stemmed from a buy-bust operation conducted by the Intelligence Operatives of Limay PNP and the 2nd Mobile Group of the Bataan Police Provincial Office. A poseur buyer successfully purchased one caliber .38 revolver, leading to Pineda’s arrest. Also recovered from him were a caliber .22 revolver, three rounds of .38-caliber ammunition, and two rounds of .22-caliber ammunition.

The suspect was informed of his constitutional rights, and the required markings and inventory of seized items were carried out following the arrest.

In a separate operation, two other suspects — Nash Amerol of Tabing Ilog, Samal, and Abner Bautista of Calero, Orani — were arrested for alleged violations of RA 9165, RA 10591, and the Omnibus Election Code.

Seized from the duo were approximately 69 grams of suspected shabu valued at around P469,200 and a caliber .38 revolver with four live rounds.

According to police, the arrest took place during an anti-drug operation conducted by joint elements of the Bataan intelligence unit and SDEU operatives of Abucay Police. The suspects were apprehended after allegedly selling a small sachet of suspected shabu to a poseur buyer using marked money. A subsequent search revealed more sachets containing shabu and the illegal firearm.

Inventory and documentation of evidence were completed at the scene in the presence of required witnesses. The suspects and confiscated items were brought to police stations for proper processing, while charges are being prepared for filing with the Provincial Prosecutor’s Office in Balanga City.