Supt. Frederick Obar, Balanga City police chief, said police officers in an “Oplan Sita” arrested Nathaniel Nava, 28, and Von Montemayor, 21, both of Barangay Cupang Proper in Balanga while on board a motorcycle without plate number.
Recovered from Nava was a .45 pistol with three live ammunitions and from Montemayor a .38 revolver with four live ammunitions. Also found in the pocket of Nava were two heat-sealed plastic sachet of suspected shabu, the police chief said.
He said suspects will be charged for illegal possession of firearms and possession of illegal drugs. “May info ang pulisya na bago magsagawa ng pagnanakaw, tumitira muna sila ng shabu para malakas ang loob at determinado sa pagnanakaw,” he said.
Obar said the two left a foiled robbery in Orion, Bataan and planning to undertake robbery-hold up of a passenger bus when collared by the Balanga police.
“May nakatala nang pagnanakaw nila sa mga bayan ng Orion, Pilar, Abucay, Hermosa at Balanga City at hindi lang sila Akyat-Bahay gang kundi involved din sa robbery-holdups.
They belong to a group of four to six armed men,” the police chief said.
Obar said during interrogation, investigators learned that the group planned to hold-up a passenger bus if not nabbed.
“Maraming would-be victims ang nailigtas nang mahuli ang dalawa,” he said.
“Balanga City police has undertaken interventions to prevent crimes in the city. Pinaiikot ko at pinalalabas sa kalsada ang percent, kabilang ang nasa admin, ng police personnel during offi ce hours,” he said.
Obar said he also organized bike patrol to look after subdivisions and areas with many apartments where homeowners leave their residenceunattended.
He said that Oplan Sita also paid off like in the apprehension of the two suspects.
Oplan Sita which is composed of two to four police offi cers is different from ordinary police checkpoints.
“The crime statistics in Balanga City has greatly decreased in the past two months,” Obar said.