A barangay captain in Barira, Maguindanao was arrested by the Philippine National Police’s Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) on Thursday, June 30, for allegedly being a member of a gun-for-hire group.
Usop Sanggakala Aron, 53, incumbent captain of Brgy. Ruminimbang in Barira town, was collared at his house in the same area by joint elements of the PNP-CIDG and Special Action Force (SAF) around 12 noon under Oplan Paglalansag-Omega / Salikop.
According to CIDG, the suspect was served with a search warrant issued for allegedly violating Republic Act No. 10591 or the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act.
“Usop Sanggakala Aron is a member and is providing armaments and harboring the Tating Sarip CG ,” the PNP-CIDG said in a statement.
The Tating Sarip group is allegedly an unlisted criminal group under the supervision of the Dawlah Islamiyah which is involved in gun-for-hire. Gun-running, and extortion activities in Parang and Barira towns of Maguindanao.
The CIDG said they confiscated from Aron’s possession four caliber M16 rifles, an M14 rifle, an M16 rifle with an attached M203 grenade launcher, a customized M16 rifle, a caliber .38 pistol, and over 1,000 rounds of live ammunition and magazines.
Aron was brought to the CIDG regional field unit office in BARMM for documentation and proper disposition.