Police arrested two men following a shooting incident in Barangay San Narciso, Victoria, Oriental Mindoro, on Tuesday, 15 September, after responding officers launched an immediate hot-pursuit operation.

Personnel of the Victoria Municipal Police Station (MPS) rushed to the area after receiving a report of the shooting to verify the incident, secure the victims and pursue the suspects who had fled the scene.

Police said the operation was aided by a drone, which provided an aerial view of the area and helped officers monitor possible escape routes. The suspects were eventually spotted fleeing on foot through rice fields, leading to their arrest.

The suspects were identified as a 27-year-old construction worker from Barangay Guinobatan, Calapan City, Oriental Mindoro, and a 39-year-old construction worker and fisherman from Lanao del Sur.

Police recovered a caliber .45 pistol, magazines, live ammunition and fired cartridge cases during the operation. A caliber .32 revolver was also recovered in a follow-up operation in an area where the suspects allegedly attempted to evade arrest.

The two victims, one of them the barangay chairman of San Narciso, were not injured, police said.

The suspects remain in the custody of the Victoria MPS as police complete the necessary documentation for the filing of appropriate charges, subject to the prosecutor’s determination.

Victoria MPS chief Police Major Brandy G. Roldan said the arrests underscored the importance of immediate police response, coordination among personnel and the use of available technology in dealing with armed incidents.

“We will continue to respond swiftly and decisively to any threat to the safety of our community,” Roldan said.

She added that the police station remains committed to protecting lives, maintaining peace and order, and bringing law violators to justice.

The recovered firearms, ammunition and fired cartridge cases were secured and documented for forensic and ballistic examination as part of the ongoing investigation.