TWO people were arrested while high-powered firearms were seized in a law enforcement operation in the province of Lanao del Sur, the police reported Monday, October 31, 2022.
The Police Regional Office-Bangsamoro Autonomous Region (PRO-BAR) identified the arrested persons as Asnawi Macalolon and Mansawi Abdulla.
The police said the two were arrested in a law enforcement operation by way of service of a search and warrants of arrest Sunday, October 30, in Masiu, Lanao del Sur.
The police said the two are cohorts of Yassen Macabantog, who was the subject of arrest warrant the police have served in Masiu.
The police said the Macabantog was listed as the fourth most wanted person in Masiu and has a standing warrant of arrest for the crime of murder with no recommended bail issued on July 11, 2022 by the court of Marawi City.
However, the police said that Macabantog eluded arrest when the search and arrest warrant was served against him.
Seized from the two cohorts of Macabantog were a caliber .45 pistol and an AR-15 rifle with ammunition and accessories, the police said.
They were placed under the custody of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group Regional Field Unit-Bangsamoro Autonomous Region for documentation and filing for appropriate charges.
Police Brigadier General John Guyguyon, PRO-BAR director, lauded the efforts of the operating units and personnel for their relentless campaign against wanted persons in the region. (SunStar Zamboanga)