Mlang cops arrest 4 for gun possession

KIDAPAWAN CITY -Authorities nabbed four persons caught carrying unlicensed firearms in a surprise inspection along the highway in M’lang town in North Cotabato, around 1030 a.m., on Monday. Senior Inspector Jonameeh Tonacao, chief of M’lang Police, identified the suspects as Notke Talaga Makmod, 30 Norjehad Manday Utto, 31 Faisal Manday Utto, 19 and Bilay Mabatawan Utto, 51, all residents of Datu Paglas, Maguindanao. Recovered from suspects were two .9 mm pistols with serial numbers BA008844 and 6001373 a caliber .45 pistol with serial number BGO1368 two magazines each for .9mm and .45 pistols and a homemade Uzi. Tonacao said that the suspects, onboard three motorcycles, were apprehended when they failed to show documents as proof that their carrying of guns were legal. He added they carried out the surprise highway check after they received reports that there were armed men believed involved in illegal drugs and gun smuggling who plannedto ‘penetrate’ the town. The tip we received from a highly reliable source proved true when we conducted highway check and apprehended these persons carrying unlicensed guns,” said Tonacao. Tonacao said they are also looking into possibilities that the suspects might be members of a syndicate involved in illegal firearms deal operating in North Cotabato and Maguindanao. The suspects were immediately placed under the custody of M’lang PNP while charges of illegal possession of firearms and ammunition are being readied against them. Also, authorities have yet to find out if the motorcycles recovered from the suspects were stolen when they failed to show proof of ownership. The highway check took place three weeks after elements of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (CIDG-ARMM) seized from two suspected hideouts of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) in Barangay Damawato in Datu Paglas, Maguindanao an M14 armalite rifle, a homemade-Uzi, a 9mm pistol, and several ammunitions from different kinds of guns. One of the houses was owned by a village official, reports added.