Manila: The Philippine National Police (PNP) confiscated loose firearms and ammunition during an operation in Occidental Mindoro that also led to the arrest of a man who turned out to be wanted for five criminal cases.

According to Philippines News Agency, PNP acting chief Lt. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. stated that joint forces from the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, Philippine Army, and Philippine Coast Guard discovered various firearms while implementing a search warrant in Sitio Pamikalan, Barangay San Vicente in Abra de Ilog, Occidental Mindoro on Dec. 22.

Nartatez mentioned that the arrest of Ramon Expiredito Alcantara reinforced the result of crime analyses that most of the wanted fugitives are repeat offenders or those involved in multiple violations of the law. "This is the reason why we have been focusing on strategic operations to account for all these fugitives, particularly those in the most wanted list from municipal to national levels," Nartatez said.

He further emphasized, "Our aggressive operations against fugitives from the law come with equal efforts to account for loose firearms, as these are usually the instruments in committing crimes."

Alcantara is wanted for murder with no bail recommended, and frustrated murder, both issued by Branch 44 of the Regional Trial Court of Mamburao. The raided area was monitored to be a storage area for loose firearms, ammunition, and other tactical operation equipment, and an investigation is ongoing to determine why the suspect has been keeping firearms and ammunition.

Nartatez indicated that he has already ordered a thorough investigation to determine if the arrested suspect is involved in other criminal activities, including gun-running activities.