Complaints were filed against a Maguindanao del Sur town councilor and his companion for allegedly transporting 61 illegal rifle parts, according to the Philippine National Police Highway Patrol Group (PNP-HPG).
The pair was arrested in Camarines Norte on Wednesday, and the complaints were filed before the local prosecutor the following day, HPG spokesperson Lt. Nadame Malang said in an interview with reporters in Camp Crame on Friday.
The complaints were for violating Republic Act No. 10591 or the Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act for the alleged illegal firearm parts, and Republic Act No. 4136 or the Land Transportation Act for reportedly possessing expired driver’s licenses, Malang added.
The suspects were onboard a pickup truck where authorities found 61 parts of M14 and M16 rifles, along with an unmarked 9mm pistol hidden in the compartments, according to the HPG.
‘These two suspects we caught were on their way from Taguig to Mindanao. It was a long trail in Santa Elena, Bicol,’ Malang said.
He did not identify the suspects, only stating, ‘They are natives of Maguindanao del Sur, and one of them is a member of a town council. We are still validating the identification.’ Malang declined to identify which town the councilor was from.
The HPG spokesperson further noted that police have yet to determine why the pair was transporting the firearm parts, to where, for how much, and what for.
The arrested suspects are currently in the custody of the Camarines Norte Provincial Highway Patrol Team.