Authorities found explosive components and firearms during a raid at the residence of a notorious criminal syndicate member in Olutanga Island, Zamboanga Sibugay last Wednesday.
The subject of the raid, 39-year-old Hussin Sali y Askalani, however, evaded arrest.
Sali, a member of the Barahama Ali Criminal Group, is a suspect in the murder of Mabuhay Vice Mayor Restituto Calonge and three other persons on February 26 this year.
Combined military and police personnel led by the Zamboanga Sibugay Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) conducted the raid through a service of search warrant for violation of RA 10591 at the hideout of Askalani in Sitio Sirin, Barangay Solar, Olutanga Wednesday morning.
Lawmen recovered a hand grenade, explosive components, a .45 caliber pistol with ammunition, ammonium nitrate and drug paraphernalia.
Sali is the second suspect in the Calonge murder who evaded arrest this year.
On February 26, the late Mabuhay vice mayor Restituto Calonge was having a meeting with Edgar Pampanga and Abduhari Gapor when they were shot dead by a lone assailant.
In March, a certain “Jenal,” a follower of syndicate leader Ermahudin Manguda, was killed by authorities during a shooutout. Manguda himself escaped.
On April 6, riding in tandem suspects shot dead Mabuhay municipal councilor Alvarez Dammang.
Two weeks later, Olibo Momo, a barangay councilor of Mabuhay was also shot.