By Martin Sadongdong
Several high-powered firearms, a grenade and various ammunition were confiscated from two wanted men who were the subject of search warrants in South Cotabato, police reported Saturday.
(AP / MANILA BULLETIN)
Abdulrasid Dalican alias Abdul Rahid, 32, and Dionne Maguan alias Yumi, 37, were arrested by police after yielding guns and a grenade in separate implementation of search warrants issued by Judge Oscar Noel Jr., presiding judge of Regional Trail Court 11, Branch 39 in Polomolok, South Cotabato.
Chief Supt. Eliseo Rasco, regional director of Soccsksargen Police Regional Office (PRO-12), said elements of South Cotabato Provincial Intelligence Branch, Drug Enforcement Unit and joint police forces from the municipalities of Surallah, Norala, Tupi, Banga, Santo Niño, Tantangan and Lake Sebu apprehended the two suspects around 4 a.m. Friday.
Rasco said Dalican was the subject of the first warrant served in his house in Barangay Lamlahak, Lake Sebu, South Cotabato. He said the subject was in the house and when they conducted the search, police were surprised to see a cache of firearms in his possession.
Police found inside Dalican's house two 12-gauge shotguns, a home-made Garand rifle, a home-made rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) rifle, an M79 launcher, a hand grenade, three magazines with 7.56 live ammunition and a caliber .50 live bullet.
Police then proceeded to the house of Maguan also in Barangay Lamlahak where a caliber .45 pistol loaded with seven bullets, two magazines and 10 pieces of live ammunition were recovered.
Rasco said the two suspects have long been in the wanted list of the provincial police. After continuous intelligence and surveillance operations, they have verified that the two were keeping unlicensed guns and explosives, leading to the operation.
The suspects were brought to Lake Sebu Municipal Police Station for medical examination and proper disposition.
They were charged for violating Republic Act 10591 or Comprehensive Law on Firearms and Ammunition while a separate case for violating RA 9516 or Law on Explosives was filed against Dalican.