COTABATO CITY – Police arrested Tuesday a man in Parang, Maguindanao for illegal possession of firearms and explosives.
In a statement Wednesday, the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (CIDG-ARMM) said its agents raided the house of Udtog Esmael in Purok Muslim, Barangay GT Biruar, Parang, Maguindanao, at 3 p.m. and seized a number of firearms, explosives, and ammunitions.
“He did not resist arrest,” said Chief Insp. Esmael Madin, CIDG-ARMM field unit head, referring to Esmael. The raid was conducted by virtue of a search warrant issued by Regional Trial Court Branch 13 Judge Bansawan Ibrahim.
Seized from Esmael’s home were a Browning automatic rifle, an M16 rifle, a shoulder-fired grenade launcher, five 40-mm projectiles, and various ammunitions.
Esmael said he kept the guns for self-defense since his family is locked in a “rido” (clan war) with another Muslim family in Parang town.
Charges for violation of Republic Act (RA) No. 10591 (Comprehensive Law on Firearms and Ammunition) and RA 9156 (Illegal Possession of Explosives) are being prepared against the suspect, who is currently detained at the CIDG-ARMM lockup in this city. (Edwin Fernandez/PNA)
