North Cotabato village chief held for guns, ammo

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines — A barangay chairman and his three companions have been arrested for illegal possession of guns and ammunition near the Pikit municipal hall in North Cotabato.

Maj. Gen. Alfredo Rosario Jr., Western Mindanao Command chief, said soldiers belonging to the 90th Infantry Battalion and 3rd Cavalry Company were providing security during the filing of certificates of candidacy (COC) on Tuesday when they noticed two guns in the cargo bed of an approaching Toyota pickup.

He said three more guns were discovered in the passenger seat.

Four M16 rifles, 27 long magazines, a short magazine, 850 rounds of 5.56 ammunition, three bandoliers and a caliber. 45 pistol with six magazines and 45 rounds of ammunition were recovered from the suspects.

Maj. Gen. Juvymax Uy, Joint Task Force Central commander, identified the driver and owner of the pickup as Benjamin Mantol, chairman of Barangay Talitay in Pikit town.

The Philippine National Police suspended the permit to carry firearms outside of residence nationwide as part of the security measures during the filing of COCs.