Man arrested for unregistered handgun found in bed

A man in Navotas City was arrested last Tuesday afternoon after police discovered a handgun in his house through a search warrant.

Joint operatives from the Intelligence Section and SWAT of the Navotas City Police Station filed the search warrant, which was issued by the Navotas City Regional Trial Court on Monday, 28 April.

The man was identified as alias "Oceb," 36, a resident of Barangay Sipac-Almacen.

Police Captain Joel Madrigalejo, officer-in-charge of the Station Investigation of the Navotas City Police, said that Oceb was hesitant when the operatives visited his house.

Upon searching Oceb's room, the officers located a .38 caliber firearm, which was loaded with four live ammunition, leading to the immediate arrest of the suspect.

"There were concerned citizens who said that they saw the suspect placing the gun between his bed frame and the bed cushion,” Madrigalejo said.

The police captain added that the recovered ammunition will undergo ballistic examination to cross-check whether the firearm was involved in other crimes.

Prior to his recent arrest, police records revealed that Oceb had been going in and out of the Navotas City Police.

The 36-year-old suspect was previously imprisoned in 2014 and again in 2024 for charges of Alarm and Scandal.

A .38 caliber firearm was also recovered from his possession during his 2024 arrest.

In an interview, the suspect denied the allegations that he owned the gun recovered from his bed.

"The gun is not mine. It might have been my nephew or brother-in-law who put it there, because I don’t own a firearm,” the suspect said.

However, he confessed that before his arrest last Tuesday, he was under the influence of illegal drugs, adding that he bought the illegal narcotics from Navotas Fish Port.

Oceb also said that early last April, he stole ₱3,500 from his brother to buy a pizza and illegal drugs.

The suspect will face charges for violating Republic Act No. 10591, or the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act.