Loose firearms were seized during an entrapment operation in Barangay Dalumangcob, Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao del Norte, on Friday afternoon, 16 January 2026, authorities said.

Police said the operation was conducted at around 3:15 p.m. against a man in his 40s suspected of violating Republic Act No. 10591, or the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act, for the alleged illegal sale of high-powered firearms.

The operation was carried out by joint personnel from the RDEU-RSOG, RIAT-RID, RMFB 14-A, PIU Maguindanao del Norte, the 4th MP 1st PMFC, and the Sultan Kudarat Municipal Police Station, following validated intelligence that the suspect was actively involved in gun-running activities.

With the help of an undercover operative, police arranged a buy-bust transaction. During the meeting inside the suspect’s vehicle, operatives reportedly observed several firearms.

Authorities said the suspect later became suspicious after noticing vehicles in the area that he believed were police-owned, prompting him to abandon the vehicle and flee on foot toward nearby houses and vegetated areas. A pursuit operation was immediately conducted, but the suspect managed to evade arrest.

Despite the escape, operating troops, in the presence of media representatives and elected barangay officials, searched the abandoned vehicle and recovered several high-powered firearms, assorted magazines, live ammunition, a war belt, assorted identification cards, boodle money used in the operation, and the vehicle believed to have been used in the illegal transaction.

Acting Chief of the Philippine National Police, PLt. Gen. Jose Melencio C. Nartatez Jr., said the seizure underscores the PNP’s continuing campaign against loose firearms, particularly in areas vulnerable to armed violence.

"Ang mahalaga rito, naalis natin sa sirkulasyon ang mga baril na puwedeng gamitin sa krimen. Iyan ang konkretong hakbang para mapanatili ang katahimikan ng komunidad," Nartatez said.

He added that authorities are continuing efforts to identify and locate those behind the illegal firearms trade.

"Hindi dito nagtatapos ang operasyon. Tuloy-tuloy ang imbestigasyon at operation para mahuli at papanagutin ang mga sangkot," he said.

All seized firearms and ammunition were properly inventoried, marked, and tagged at the site of seizure in accordance with standard procedures and in the presence of required witnesses. The confiscated items will be forwarded to the Regional Forensic Unit–BARMM for qualitative and quantitative examination.

The PNP urged the public to continue supporting law enforcement by reporting information related to illegal firearms, assuring that all reports will be treated with strict confidentiality.