An active police non-commissioned officer and a former military man were arrested Tuesday, October 13, 2026, during an anti-illegal firearms operation in Villasis, Pangasinan, the Philippine National Police (PNP) announced.
The operation was carried out jointly by the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) Pangasinan Provincial Field Unit and the Villasis Municipal Police Station, targeting the alleged illegal sale of firearms and ammunition.
Active Officer Assigned to Nueva Ecija Station
According to the PNP Public Information Office (PNP-PIO), the arrested police officer is currently assigned to a police station in Nueva Ecija. His co-arrestee is a former member of the military. The PNP did not release the names of either suspect.
Both were informed of the reasons for their arrest and of their constitutional rights at the time of apprehension, the PNP said. They were subsequently brought to the CIDG office in Urdaneta City for documentation and the initiation of legal proceedings.
Rifle, Pistols, and Ammunition Seized
Authorities recovered a 5.56mm rifle, a caliber .45 pistol, magazines, ammunition, and other items believed to be connected to the alleged illegal transaction, the PNP said.
A PNP-issued 9mm pistol and ammunition were also recovered from the police officer during what the PNP described as a lawful body search conducted at the scene.
Charges Filed Under Comprehensive Firearms Law
Both suspects face charges for alleged violations of Republic Act No. 10591, known as the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act, according to the PNP-PIO.
RA 10591 governs the ownership, possession, carrying, manufacture, dealing, and importation of firearms and ammunition in the Philippines, and prescribes penalties for unlicensed or illegal firearms transactions.
PNP Chief: No Rank Will Shield Wrongdoers
PNP chief Police General Jose Melencio C. Nartatez Jr. responded to the arrest with a firm statement on accountability within the force.
"Ang pagiging pulis ay may kaakibat na malaking responsibilidad. We are entrusted to enforce the law, so we must also be accountable for our own actions," Nartatez said.
The PNP chief added that anyone found to have broken the law must face consequences regardless of rank or position, with no one singled out and no one shielded, according to the PNP-PIO.
Case Cited as Test of Integrity Monitoring Program
The PNP said the arrest underscores the importance of its Focused Agenda on Integrity Monitoring, an internal program designed to enforce accountability and uphold professional conduct among police personnel.
The police force said it will allow the investigation to proceed based on evidence and legal procedure, while sustaining broader efforts to curb the illegal circulation of firearms across the country.
By the Numbers
- 1 active PNP non-commissioned officer arrested
- 1 former military man arrested
- 1 5.56mm rifle recovered
- 1 caliber .45 pistol recovered
- 1 PNP-issued 9mm pistol recovered from the police officer
- Charges under Republic Act No. 10591
Why This Matters
The arrest of an active police officer in an illegal firearms operation raises direct concerns about integrity within the ranks of law enforcement, a matter PNP chief Nartatez acknowledged publicly. The case tests the PNP's own Focused Agenda on Integrity Monitoring, which commits the force to hold its personnel accountable under the same laws they are sworn to enforce. Legal proceedings are now underway at the CIDG office in Urdaneta City, with both suspects facing charges under the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act.
Photo credit: Photo courtesy of PNP Public Information Office