Firearms, ammunition seized in Lanao del Norte

Authorities intercepted 16 high-powered firearms hidden inside a local government unit (LGU) rescue vehicle in Lanao del Norte.

According to John Consulta’s report on “24 Oras,” police found the weapons after the vehicle and a dump truck following it underwent border control inspection in the municipality of Sultan Naga Dimaporo while en route from Zamboanga del Sur.

Seized from the armed men were two M16 rifles, M14 rifles, Bushmaster rifle, grenades, and live ammunition.

“High-powered arms, may mga explosives and also ang mga Barrett rifle, mga sniper rifle. Ang bala po nun ay yung caliber 50 and is a long-distance na sniper rifle. Usually, ito ang mga nakakapinsala sa ating mga sundalo at saka kapulisan whenever there are operations na nilulunsad natin,” PBGen. Benjamin Acorda, PRO10 Regional Director, said.

(High-powered arms, explosives, Barrett rifle, sniper rifle. The ammunition of those is caliber 50 and is a long-distance na sniper rifle. These are usually the weapons that wound our military and police forces whenever we have operations.)

PR10 said they will conduct a ballistic examination on the firearms to determine if they were used in other crimes.

“They came from some Zambo Sur. And tinitignan natin kasi may mga nangyaring kaguluhan doon. Tinitingnan natin if they have something to do with that,” said Acorda.

(They came from Zamboanga del Sur. We’ll investigate if they have something to do with the recent chaos there.)

The suspects, meanwhile, will be facing charges for illegal possession of firearms and for violating the election gun ban after failing to present a document or exemption from the Commission on Elections.

They also refused to give statements on the incident. — Sundy Locus/BM, GMA News