THREE persons wanted for murder and attempted murder and five others were arrested by the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG)-Northern Mindanao in Barangay Cadayonan, Munai town, Lanao del Norte on Monday, October 21.

Police identified the murder and attempted murder suspects as Alnor Panontongan, also known as Komine Panontongan Malo, 36, Kairodin Mutto alias Norodin Baunto Mutto, 35, and Abdul Razzaq Panontongan Mutto alias Mahid Baunto Mutto, 26, all residents of the same town.

The three, who were the subjects of the operation, have alias warrants of arrest issued by the Regional Trial Court Branch 6 in Iligan City.

CIDG-Northern Mindanao Chief Raymund Liguden said they are newly identified members of Raphakar group, a criminal group engaging in gun running and illegal drugs operation within Lanao del Norte and the neighboring provinces.

Liguden said Mahid Baunto Mutto is listed as number 4 most wanted person, while Norodin Baunto Mutto is listed as number 6 most wanted person of the Munai Municipal Police Station.

They were the suspects in the murder of Police Officer 1 Mohammad Nur B. Mutto and attempted murder of Saaduddin Jalaudin. Liguden said the victims are also relatives of the suspects.

Also arrested for illegal possession of firearms and ammunition were Harry Panontongan, 23, Naiem Mutia, 35, Jabber Muto, 28, Almasan Mutto, 20, and Abdul Jabbar Abdul Azis, 26.

All are family relatives, police said.

Confiscated from the suspects were caliber .45 pistols, ammunition, and a caliber 22 long rifle barrel.

Liguden said during the operation, the suspects fired to the operatives and tried to escape onboard a vehicle. But police quickly responded leading to the arrest of the suspects.

Charges were filed on Tuesday, October 22, while the suspects are detained at the CIDG-Iligan.

"This is the result of our continuing and aggressive anti-criminality operations na maigting nating ipinapatupad dto sa area natin," Liguden said.