By Edwin Fernandez | Philippine News Agency
SHARIFF AGUAK, Maguindanao – Two suspected gunrunners who started selling guns to politicians ahead of next year’s political exercises have been arrested here during an entrapment operation, the police said on Wednesday (Nov. 3).
In a report, Col. Jibin Bongcayao, Maguindanao police director, said the suspects were arrested in Sitio Malinis, Barangay Mother Poblacion at 4:00 p.m. Tuesday (Nov. 2).
He identified them as Adji Mohaimen Akmad Lumamba and Talib Basagan Manindig, both of Matanog, Maguindanao.
“Confiscated from them were one M16 rifle, one 40mm grenade launcher, mobile phones, and the boodle money used in the transaction,” Bongcayao said.
The suspects, now under the custody of the Shariff Aguak police, are facing charges for violation of Republic Act 10591 or the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act.
Police intelligence reports indicated that among the clients of the suspects are local politicians.
“We are digging deeper into the matter,” Bongcayao said.
Meanwhile, Brig. Gen. Eden Ugale, director of the Police Regional Office–Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (PRO-BARMM), lauded the operating units for the arrest of the suspects.
“To ensure that loose firearms will not be used as instruments to sow violence in next year’s election, PRO-BARMM will remain relentless in its campaign against loose firearms as part of our early preparation for a peaceful and orderly conduct of 2022 elections,” Ugale said in a statement.
He said the efforts and ingenuity of the Maguindanao police in securing and protecting constituents in the province from illegal acts is worth emulating by other units in the region. (PNA) – bny
