MILF commanders nabbed for illegally selling firearms in Marawi

A battalion commander and sub-commander of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) were arrested in separate operations in Marawi City for the alleged illegal sale of firearms.

According to Emil Sumangil's 24 Oras report on Wednesday, the battalion commander was arrested in an undercover operation conducted by the Philippine National Police - Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) in Marawi City on Monday.

Authorities recovered the weapons kept inside a sack the suspect allegedly sold to an undercover police officer.

In a separate operation in Marawi City, another member of the MILF with the rank of battalion sub-commander was also arrested by the CIDG for allegedly selling weapons.

Two automatic rifles, two pistols, ammunition, and various paraphernalia were recovered from the arrested suspect.

GMA Integrated News is still trying to get a statement from the suspects.

Based on PNP records, police have captured 6,000 personalities and recovered more than 20,000 loose firearms  since their campaign started in January to dismantle armed groups that could be used in the upcoming elections.

“As early as last year po talaga, pina-igting na natin ang kampanya versus loose firearms, dahil ito ang isa sa mga risk factors na na-identify natin na maaring makapag-impluwensya sa mga election campaign natin,” said PNP Spokesperson Police Colonel Jean Fajardo.

(As early as last year, we intensified the campaign against loose firearms because this is one of the risk factors that we identified that could influence the election campaign.)

The PNP said the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region could be placed under election areas of concern, which is why the PNP and COMELEC are closely monitoring the area.

An evaluation and assessment have begun on possible election areas of concern. —Sherylin Untalan/RF, GMA Integrated News