BANGUED, Abra – Authorities arrested 12 individuals and confiscated several firearms and ammunition in an operation in Pidigan town, this province, over the weekend.

A lawyer who tried to intervene was likewise arrested and may be charged with obstruction of justice.

Police Col. Daniel Pel-ey, spokesperson and chief of community affairs of the Abra Provincial Police Office, said in a press briefing Sunday that the arrests prevented the possible use of weapons that may disrupt the polls.

“Maganda at nahuli natin dahil hindi na nila magagamit makapanggulo sa araw ng election (It is good they were arrested and they won’t be able to use these to cause trouble),” Pel-ey said.

The operation stemmed from a reported disturbance in Barangay Laskig around 5:20 p.m. Saturday.

Responding law enforcers spotted an individual carrying a firearm, prompting them to secure the area and inspect two pickup trucks nearby. Six were arrested from each vehicle.

The police seized two M16A1 rifles, one Bushmaster rifle, eight loaded 5.56 mm magazines containing 224 rounds, four .45 caliber pistols with magazines and 51 rounds, 12 9mm rounds, four tactical holsters, four sling bags, and six ballistic vests inside one of the vehicles.

The other pickup truck yielded two .45 caliber pistols with full magazines – one from the driver and one from a passenger.

Authorities said the recovered weapon from one of the passengers had markings indicating it may have originally belonged to the United States government.

Pel-ey noted that authorities were still verifying whether the firearms are licensed or considered loose, and checking the registration of the two vehicles.

The six male passengers in one vehicle are residents of Langiden, Abra and Pidigan, while from the other vehicle, are residents of Caloocan City, Manila, and Abra.

The suspects were brought to the Abra Provincial Hospital for medical examination and later to the Pidigan Municipal Police Station for documentation and filing of charges of violation of the election gun ban and illegal possession of firearms.

The lawyer, 33, is from Irisan, Baguio City.

Over 400 police officers have been deployed to Abra, a province with a consistent history of election-related violence.

As of the May 7 list of election areas of concern, Bangued, Bucay, and Pilar are under orange category (presence of armed groups) while Lagayan, Pidigan, Tayum, Tineg, Dolores, and Lagangilang are under yellow category (history of political unrest). (PNA)