Police nab teen armed with a cal. 45 pistol

Police arrested an armed teenager, a robbery suspect, and two men allegedly involved in illegal drugs and firearms in separate operations in Rizal and Metro Manila over the weekend.

In Rodriguez town, Rizal, a 16-year-old boy was apprehended Friday night after police found him in possession of a firearm during surveillance and follow-up operations in Kasiglahan Village, Barangay San Jose.

Officers recovered a .45-caliber Colt pistol loaded with live ammunition and a magazine.

Police said the minor was positively identified by a witness as being involved in an attempted robbery with homicide on 8 February in the same area that resulted in the death of a 20-year-old victim.

In Parañaque City, police arrested a robbery suspect following an entrapment operation linked to a reported hold-up during a pre–Chinese New Year gathering in Barangay Tambo.

Investigators said the victims — a Filipino, two Chinese nationals, and a Malaysian — were celebrating when suspects allegedly used force and intimidation to steal high-value mobile phones, luxury bags, and about P280,000 in cash before fleeing.

Police later learned that the suspects contacted the victims and demanded P120,000 in exchange for the return of the stolen phones.

The demand prompted an entrapment operation by Tambo Police Sub-Station 2, leading to the arrest of alias “Xing,” 37, a Chinese national, inside a condominium in Barangay Tambo.

Police said three other Chinese nationals, including one identified as alias “Tie Zhu,” remain at large.

Meanwhile, in Las Piñas City, police arrested two men during an anti-criminality patrol early Saturday after officers flagged down a motorcycle along Padre Diego Cera Avenue in Barangay Elias Aldana for traffic violations.