Businessman arrested for gun violation in San Nicolas

Police arrested a 41-year-old businessman on Sunday night, 15 February 2026, for allegedly carrying a firearm inside a restobar in Barangay 3, San Ildefonso, San Nicolas, in violation of Republic Act 10591, or the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act.

The suspect was identified as Alexander De Castro Arellano II, 41, single, a businessman, and a resident of Barangay 22, San Nicolas, Ilocos Norte.

According to the San Nicolas Municipal Police Station, the arrest took place at around 9:45 p.m. in front of Manggi Restobar along Cleveland Street in Barangay 3 after responding officers received a call from a concerned citizen at about 9:42 p.m. reporting a commotion in the area.

The initial investigation showed that Edwin Pizarro, together with companions Allen De Guzman, Billy Rey Pascua, and Jayson Comillo, was walking toward Manggi Restobar when a Honda City passed by, its driver pressing the horn and allegedly yelling at them. Upon arriving in front of the establishment, three male individuals — identified as Arellano, who was driving the vehicle, and his companions Reynald Ramos and Juris Angeles — alighted from the car and entered the same restobar.

Inside the establishment, Pizarro reportedly cracked a joke directed at the driver, which the latter did not like, leading to a heated argument between the two groups. While both parties were arguing, police said the driver returned to his vehicle and took a black sling bag. Pizarro’s group sensed that something was wrong and grabbed the sling bag, triggering a fistfight.

The owner of the establishment, identified as Gian Garvida Dela Cruz, 40, single, and a resident of Barangay 3, San Nicolas, Ilocos Norte, intervened, pacified the two parties, and managed to retrieve the black sling bag, which he immediately turned over to the responding officers.

The suspect later admitted that the sling bag contained his firearm, described as a Colt .45 hi-capacity pistol. Upon verification, he was able to present pertinent documents, including a firearm license, a License to Own and Possess Firearms (LTOPF), and a Permit to Carry Firearm Outside Residence (PTCFOR).

Despite this, police arrested Arellano for violation of Section 31, in relation to Section 39(e), Article II of Republic Act 10591, for bringing the firearm into a prohibited place, specifically a bar. He was informed of his constitutional rights in a dialect known to him.

Confiscated from the suspect’s possession, custody, and control were one black sling bag containing a caliber .45 hi-capacity pistol with a magazine inserted and loaded with eight live rounds of caliber .45 ammunition, another magazine inside the sling bag loaded with six live rounds of caliber .45 ammunition, one black iPhone cellphone, one Realme cellphone, a black cap, and one small sling bag containing personal money and hotel keys.

Police said the inventory and photographs of the seized items were conducted in the presence of Barangay Kagawad John Renzo Cabanos of Barangay 3, San Ildefonso, San Nicolas, Ilocos Norte, and were duly recorded by the arresting officers.