N. Cotabato: An active and a deserting member of the Philippine Army were arrested here Friday following an entrapment operation for allegedly selling illegal firearms. Lt. Juaren Caang, spokesperson of the Cotabato Provincial Police Office, identified the suspects as Pfc Jay Clinton Delgado Paguntalan, 30, an active member of the Army’s 39th Infantry Battalion based in Makilala town, and Sarif Dasil Mungkas, 35, an Army deserter.

According to Philippines News Agency, the Military Intelligence Battalion led the operation and coordinated with the local police for the entrapment that led to the arrest of the suspects along the national highway in Barangay Lika at about 3:30 p.m. Authorities recovered three M16 rifles from the suspects, including the PHP200,000 in buy-bust money.

Police are preparing cases against the suspects for violating Republic Act 10591, or the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act, and the Commission on Elections gun ban under the Omnibus Election Code before the Provincial Prosecutors Office in Kidapawan City. The Army’s 39th Infantry Battalion, in a statement, also lauded the arrest of the suspects.