THE Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) of the Philippine National Police (PNP) has been actively enforcing arrests to law violators ahead of the May 13 elections.
According to the records of PNP, from March 15 to April 24, the CIDG in Northern Mindanao already served 38 search warrants against reported crime suspects, confiscated 36 firearms of different calibers and five grenades or explosives, hundreds of ammunition, and arrested and charged 31 suspects.
The police said the loose firearms are being loaned to gun-for-hires who harass and intimidate candidates of the May 2019 elections.
Recently, the CIDG arrested two men wanted for different crimes and four people for possessing illegal firearms in separate operations in Northern Mindanao on April 24.
The police arrested murder suspect Ramil Manabat in Purok 5, Barangay Ospital, Aloran, Misamis Occidental; and Nikko Angelo Gochangko, who is wanted for theft, at EG Bual St., Patag, Cagayan de Oro City through the police’s Oplan Pagtugis or campaign against wanted persons.
In Lanao del Norte, the CIDG Regional Field Unit 10 served the arrest warrant against suspected lawless persons namely Glenn Francis Tero of Purok 4, Sitio Maharlika, Barangay Panoloon, and Jessie Alger of Barangay Katipunan in Sapad town.
Confiscated from Tero and Alger were caliber .45 Caspian Arms Ltd; M1 Garand Rifle; M16 rifle; shotgun; two rifle grenades; hand grenade; several magazines for ammunition; and hundreds of different kinds of ammunition.
According to the police, the arrested suspects were charged for violating Republic Act (RA) 10591, which prohibits illegal possession and manufacturing of firearms, and RA 9516 or the illegal possession of explosives.
Meanwhile, in Bukidnon, the CIDG, through a drug bust against suspected gunrunners, arrested Roland Pagas and Marlon Talisik, who were reported as members of Racoman Criminal Group.
Seized from the suspects were a caliber .45 with magazine and ammunition and a converted sub-machine gun fitted for 9mm barrel.
Pagas and Talisik were charged for violating RA 10591 and the Omnibus Election Code of the Commission on Elections.
Police Lieutenant Colonel Raymund Liguden of PNP said that the unrelenting anti-crime operations conducted by the CIDG intensified to rid the region of threats to the forthcoming national and midterm election in May.