Army soldiers yesterday intercepted two armed men in the company of civilians at a checkpoint in Brgy. Lopez Jaena, Sagay City, Negros Occidental, military said.

Col. Oscar Lactao, 303rd Infantry Brigade commander,  said members of the 62nd Infantry Battalion Scout Platoon, manning the checkpoint,   recovered a .45 caliber pistol with serial number 270171 and three magazines containing 23 ammunition, as well as  a pistolized shotgun with five live bullets from Robert Sarona, alias Bebing, and Ricardo Gamao, alias  Rex.

Lactao said they are still verifying if Sarona and Gamao have links to any armed groups, because of their possession of firearms.

Sarona and Gamao, and the firearms taken from them were immediately turned over by the 62IB to Sagay City police station.

Lactao, however, said they released the three other persons, identified as  Ronie Abara, alias Toto, Jason Ninal and Renaldo Espinosa, alias Boy, since no firearm was taken from them.

The arrest of Gamao, Sarona and three others came almost a month after about 20 rebels, on board two luxury vans, were intercepted at a checkpoint in Brgy. Punao, San Carlos City.

It resulted in the capture of an alleged NPA member identified as Japet Tuayon and the recovery of an M16 assault rifle, after a brief firefight at the checkpoint site, military records show.

Chief Inspector Gabriel Gutierrez, Sagay police chief, yesterday said the two arrested suspects are now detained at the station lock-up cell.

Lactao said charges for illegal possession of firearms will be filed against Sarona and Gamao.*GPB

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