Cagayan De Oro City (CNN Philippines) — Nine boxes of live ammunition and explosives were intercepted by the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group-Cagayan De Oro City (CIDG-CDOC) on Thursday.
These were seized at the integrated bus terminal in Agora, Lapasan.
Chief Insp. Melgar Devaras, CIDG-Northern Mindanao deputy regional chief, said more than 6,000 caliber .60 live ammunition, and four pieces of M203 grenade explosives were supposed to be delivered to a gun store in Marawi City, But authorities blocked the delivery.
The items, misdeclared as spare parts, were from Pasay City and were valued at ₱372,000.
Authorities arrested suspects Amer Macarangal, 18; and Jabar Mangadag, 33.
Devaras said the items were stored in the packaging area of the Philtranco bus station in Agora terminal when they arrived on Wednesday. The operating team waited for the persons who would claim the package.
“It started sa report ng Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (ISAFP) na mayroong ita-transport na ammunition galing Pasay so hinintay natin kung sinong mag-claim bago natin ikasa ang pag-recover ng mga ammunition,” Devaras said.
[Translation: It started from a report of the Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines which said that ammunition coming from Pasay was going to be transported. We waited for the person who would claim these before we began recovering the ammunition.]
Devaras said Mangadag was found to be affiliated with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and Macarangal allegedly works at a gun store.
“Admitted si Jabar na affiliated siya sa MILF at sabi nila kaya sila mayroon nitong mga bala dahil ide-deliver daw nila sa gun store sa Marawi City pero so far wala naman ammunition na ganito na pwede ibenta sa gun store. Definitely it’s illegal,” Devaras said.
[Translation: Jabar admitted that he is affiliated with the MILF, and said the reason why they had the bullets was because they would deliver these to the gun store in Marawi City. But, so far, there is no ammunition of this kind that can be sold in a gun store. It’s definitely illegal.]
Initial investigation disclosed that transactions started in 2010. Authorities are investigating the source of the seized contraband.
“May umusling kasi na isang bala mula sa kahon kaya na-discover na ammunition ito,” Devaras added.
[Translation: A bullet came out from a box and this was how the ammunition was discovered.]
Devaras raised the possibility that the seized ammunition and explosives will be used for lawless activities. He said the place where the items would supposedly be delivered, is a stronghold of the Maute terrorist group.
“We believe na ang purpose is gamitin talaga for lawless activities sa area knowing the address na Marawi and Butig Lanao which is the force of the Maute group,” Devaras said.
[Translation: We believe that the purpose would be for lawless activities knowing that Marawi and Butig Lanao is a force of the Maute group.]
Suspects will face charges of violation of the comprehensive law on firearms and ammunition (RA10591) and the unlawful possession of explosives (RA 9516).
“We are preparing the charges for the inquest proceedings at depende sa piskalya kung saan mapupunta ang mga items pero most likely ibabalik ito sa atin then we will submit it to the crime lab for examination,” Devaras added.
[Translation: We are preparing the charges for the inquest proceedings. Where the items will go will depend of the fiscal, but it will most likely be returned to us. We will submit it to the crime lab for examination.]
