Saturday, November 22, 2008 Checkpoint yields high-powered gun By Malu C. Manar
KIDAPAWAN CITY -- Authorities intercepted an unlicensed high-powered firearm in a highway inspection along Kabacan-Cotabato highway on Friday.
Senior Inspector Frank Anito, chief of Kabacan Police, said an unlicensed M-16 armalite rifle was found in the possession of two police officers assigned in Maguindanao province.
The alleged owners of the gun are Police Officer (PO) 2 Moil Nul and his brother PO1 Lahmudin Nul.
The Nul brothers were onboard a white Mitsubishi Adventure SUV with plate number SHS 260 when intercepted by police operatives along the national highway in Kabacan.
Also onboard the vehicle was Mohammad Singa who works as security officer of the Land Transportation Office (LTO) in Kabacan district. The SUV driver was identified as Ambil Enit, who, along with three others, will be charged with illegal possession of firearms.
Anito said a tip from an intelligence agent assigned at the Cotabato Provincial Police Office led to the arrest of the four and the confiscation of the firearm.
Anito is scheduled to file a complaint Friday against the suspects at the Office of the Provincial Prosecutors in North Cotabato.
"They could not present to us the necessary papers as proof the firearm is licensed and that they have authority to carry it," Anito said.
The gun, he said, could have been brought somewhere in Kidapawan City.
"We will study further this case. We will try to find out their source," he added.
