Pampanga: Members of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) have arrested an alleged online seller of unlicensed firearms in Pampanga province. In a statement on Monday, CIDG chief Brig. Gen. Nicolas Torre III announced the arrest of the suspect, identified only as "Oliver," during an entrapment operation conducted on Nov. 22. The operation took place in front of a parking area of a mall in Barangay Lagundi, located in the town of Mexico. According to Philippines News Agency, the suspect was caught red-handed selling unlicensed firearms to an undercover police officer. The items confiscated from the suspect included one Colt Upper Receiver (Barrel) for a cal. 5.56 rifle, one Bushmaster Lower Receiver for a cal. 5.56 rifle, and one Bolt Carrier Assembly for a Cal. 5.56 rifle. Additionally, steel magazines, a rifle bag, 99 pieces of PHP1,000 boodle money, a Mitsubishi Space Gear vehicle, and a mobile phone were seized. A subsequent search led to the seizure of a cal. 22 SW22 Victory pistol with an optic and suppressor, a cal. 45 MKIV Colt pistol with an optic, steel magazines, ammunition, and one sling bag. These items are currently undergoing verification. Brig. Gen. Torre stated that the suspect and the confiscated items are under the custody of the CIDG Provincial Field Unit Pampanga office. Charges are being prepared for violations of Republic Act (RA) 10591, the Comprehensive Law on Firearms and Ammunition, in relation to Section 6 of RA 10175, the Cybercrime Prevention Act. In a related development, the Police Regional Office (PRO) 3, responsible for Central Luzon, reported the seizure of 842 firearms during operations conducted from Oct. 1 to Nov. 23 across the region. Brig. Gen. Redrico Maranan, Director of PRO 3, indicated that 239 individuals were arrested for violations of RA 10591 within the same period. Out of the 842 illegal weapons seized, 832 were short firearms, and 10 were classified as light weapons. Of these firearms, 280 were confiscated through law enforcement activities such as search warrants and checkpoint operations, 153 were voluntarily surrendered by their owners, and 409 were acquired under the Revitalized Katok program. This program involves police visits to gun holders' homes to encourage the renewal of expired licenses or permits to carry.