COTABATO CITY (MindaNews / 21 January) — Nineteen high-powered firearms were confiscated during a raid Monday by the military in a barangay belonging to the Special Geographic Areas of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.
Lt Col Rod Orbon, spokesperson for the 6th Infantry Division and Joint Task-Force Central, said in a phone interview that the raid occurred in Barangay Lower Panangkalan, Pahamuddin, one of the eight towns comprising the SGA.
The firearms seized include M203 grenade launchers, M-16 rifles, M-14 rifles, a Garand rifle, an RPG launcher. The soldier also found ammunition and rifle telescopes.
Orbon said troops from the 34th Infantry Battalion acted on a tip from concerned citizens about the presence of armed men in the barangay around 10 a.m. Monday.
He said it took the soldiers almost three hours to reach the area and get close to the targets.
He said they tried to avoid an encounter as it was a populated area but that the targets, after sensing the arrival of government troops, escaped, leaving their weapons behind.
Orbon said they could not say for now to what group the armed men belong, although they are verifying information that the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters and the Dawlah Islamiyah Mindanao are offering services as private armed groups of politicians during the election season.
He said they are intensifying efforts and working with the Philippine National Police in thwarting such attempts by any armed group.
Lt Col Edgardo Batinay, commanding officer of the 34th IB, reminded about the gun ban being implemented by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) as part of the measures to ensure peaceful elections.
“This act represents a clear violation of the gun ban under Comelec Resolution No. 11067,” he said. (Ferdinandh Cabrera/MindaNews)
