Pangasinan kagawad held for guns

MANILA, Philippines — A barangay councilman was arrested for illegal possession of firearms and ammunition in Bayambang, Pangasinan on Tuesday.

Salvador Bautista, 45, of Barangay Pangdel was apprehended after a raid on his house yielded a caliber .45 pistol and bullets.

The raid was based on a search warrant issued by a local court.

The Civil Security Group of the Philippine National Police (PNP) had earlier said barangay officials own about 50 percent of loose firearms in the country.

The PNP has intensified its operations against loose firearms in preparation for the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections on Oct. 30.