Cops seize gun and grenade from man about to board ship

CEBU, Philippines - A hand grenade, a .38 cal. revolver, and several bullets were confiscated by the Regional Maritime Group from a man bound for Leyte past 10 a.m. yesterday at Pier 4, Cebu City.

Arrested was 33-year-old Ranel Malig-on, a fisherman originally from Tibagon Malangas, Sibugay, Zamboanga Del Sur after a hand grenade, a .38 revolver with four live bullets, and other 17 live bullets of a .45 cal. pistol were seized from him.

SPO1 Crisanto Niñal and PO1 Hadji Sansolis of the Maritime Police arrested Malig-on after the X-ray machine operator of Supercat terminal, Adrian Flores, immediately reported finding the weapons to the security management which then called the police.

PO3 Napoleon Taneo of the Maritime Police said that Malig-on was about to get on SuperFerry 12 bound for Ormoc, Leyte, together with his wife Mercedita and five children aged between three and 11 years old.

Their baggage was passed through the X-ray machine when the device buzzed over a sack that contained a tin can.

Flores checked the tin can where the items seized from Malig-on were found, the suspect was then arrested.

He, however, did not resist arrest and did not also deny owning the items.

Malig-on alleged to the police and to the reporters that the gun, which was originally owned by his father, was taken from his elder brother who was killed by members of Moro Islamic Liberation Front in Mindanao after mistaken for being an asset of the military.

The accused further alleged that they left their place and decided to live in his wife’s place in Garaupay, Ormoc, still in great fear that the MILF may kill them next after his brother.

Malig-on, strongly denied of being a member of the MILF or any other group and alleged that he only brought along the said weapons with him for self-defense.

The police have yet to check his records.

A charge for the violation of Republic Act 8292 or illegal possession of firearms and explosives will be charged against Malig-on who is now detained at the Maritime Police Office in Pier 5. — Niña G. Sumacot/BRP (THE FREEMAN)