ABOUT 40 suspected members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) were arrested for illegal possession of guns and explosives in Talakag, Bukidnon on Monday, February 24.
Through the Simultaneous Aggressive Police Operation (Sapo), members of the Talakag town police arrested the alleged 40 MILF members belonging to 118 Von Bashier Unit, Camp Badar Talangan Maguindanao under Abdulbasser Sulaiman Tahir Base Commander.
Arrested were Mohalidin Ansid, Walid Salaman, Oman Natian, Norodin Pasandalan, Bonie Zalacia, Pairudin Kalantungan, Esmael Bro, Limbol Kutungan, Gens Abdull, Abusama Dalican, Aladin Ali Laoid, Bong Ampuan, Ebrahim Salud, Omar Benjamin, Ansari Karim, Nos Abdullah, Kens Ali, and Mohaiman Usman.
Also arrested were Guimalodin Kauti, Tatokan Munting, Dari Guiamalos, Benjamin Salim, Datu Ali Samar, Sarad Sawal, Morsid Tanto, Waltu Abdullah, Abusalik Parsan, Udjag Sindatoky Kenjag, Sukarno Linandang, Abdul Kadil, Akmad Kapiya, Salik Mama Abdullah, Makadatu Rekiman, Akob Nasa, Andang Nasrulah Ayob, Datukali Masukat, Edbrahim Nabantong and Samana Pasandalan.
Police said the 40 were on board a truck and were on their way to the MNLF Camp Madaya Basak in Talakag.
Major Silvestre Asiong, Bukidnon police information officer, said they were allegedly in the town as reinforcement to help secure one of their members who shot dead a resident in the area.
"There was a shooting incident last February 21 where a man died and the suspect, is one of their members. We asked them to surrender the suspect and face the consequences. But instead, nag-request naman hinuon sila ug reinforcement, basin maka-cause pa ug tension sa area," Asiong said.
Authorities seized from their possession an M14 US rifle, fragmentation grenade, handheld radio and ammunition.
Asiong said the arrested MILF members were later on turned over to the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process.
They will face charges for violation of Republic Act (RA) 10591 and RA 9516.
