10 held for trying to enter Camp Aguinaldo with firearms

Ten people were held for questioning on Monday after they tried to enter Camp Aguinaldo, main headquarters of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), carrying firearms but with no appropriate documents.

AFP public affairs office Chief Colonel Edgard Arevalo said the 10 claimed to be members of a group called Southeast Asia Collective Defense Treaty.

The group reportedly said they are in Camp Aguinaldo to present a letter requesting accreditation from Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana. However, upon investigation, it turned Lorenzana had no appointment with them.

Arevalo identified the men as Daniel Pagalan, the group's "chief intelligence," Alvin Simbahon, Rolando Mahusay, Dioscoro Danis, James Iwayan, Butch Galimba, Rico Giducos, Ramil Peralta, Rundy Paderes and Pascula Dizon.

Arevalo said none of the men was a holder of the gun ban exemption from the Commission on Elections.

Authorities were able to seize five pistols (two homemade caliber .45 and three caliber .9mm), seven magazines with 47 caliber .9mm and 26 caliber .45 live ammunition, and identification cards of unknown authority and source from the 10 men.

The individuals were later turned over to Philippine National Police (PNP) Station 8 for proper disposition. —Anna Felicia Bajo/KBK, GMA News