COTABATO CITY – Authorities arrested a town councilor of Sultan sa Barongis, Maguindanao, and his two other companions at a checkpoint in Tacurong City on Saturday for illegal possession of firearms.
The Tacurong police office, in a report to Chief Supt. Eliseo Rasco, Police Regional Office – 12 director, identified those arrested as Sultan sa Barongis Councilor Datu Norie Maulana Mamalo, and his colleagues Zams Kamal Musaiden and Reyno Silongan Lagawan, all residents of Barangay Barurao, Sultan sa Barongis.
All three suspects were arrested around 9 a.m. at a police mobile checkpoint set up along Tacurong’s national highway in Barangay EJC Montilla.
Seized from the suspects were two .45-caliber pistols, a 9mm pistol, and ammunition.
Rasco said the arrest of the suspect was a result of the intensified Oplan Bitag the police have implemented around Region 12 or Soccsksargen comprising the provinces of South Cotabato, North Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, and Sarangani, and the cities of Tacurong, Cotabato, General Santos, and Kidapawan.
Rasco said charges for violation of RA 10591 or the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act will be filed against the suspects. (Noel Punzalan/PNA)
