GENERAL SANTOS CITY – Police arrested on Friday, Jan. 6, an Indonesian and two Filipinos for transporting unlicensed high-powered firearms in Kiamba, Sarangani.
Major Ludovico Rendaje, Kiamba police chief, identified the suspects as Indonesian Anton Gobay, 29, and his Filipino companions Michael Tino, 25, a resident of Barangay Malalag, Maitum, Sarangani, and Jimmy Abolde, 53, of Barangay Labangal, this city.
Police said the suspects were on their way to Maitum on board a motorcycle from this city when they were flagged down by the Police Regional Mobile Force Battalion in a checkpoint in Barangay Nalus.
The suspect were frisked and yielded 10 AR-15 automatic rifles, police said.
Brig. Gen. Jimili Macaraeg, Police Regional Office 12 director, said police investigators had placed the suspects under tactical interrogation to determine if they have ties to local terrorist groups.
Police are closely coordinating with Indonesian consulate officials in Davao City to check the background of the Indonesian.