Marawi City raid nets high-powered firearms, IED parts

From GMA News (May 12): Marawi City raid nets high-powered firearms, IED parts

A joint team of the Philippine Army, Philippine National Police, and National Bureau of Investigation seized high-powered firearms and detonating devices in a raid on a three-storey buiding in Marawi City, Lanao Del Sur, Monday.

Arrested during the raid was Hadji Cader Sarongsong, the alleged operator of the illegal manufacture of firearms and ammunitions in the building, which is in a residential area.

The raid was conducted past 12 p.m., and followed two months of surveillance operations in the area.

Authorities found 10 high-powered firearms, including an M-16 assault rifle, a .50-caliber sniper rifle, an M-60 rifle grenade and a M-79 grenade launcher. Authorities also seized a detonating device and other equipment used to manufacture firearms.

In an interview with GMA News' “24 Oras”, Sarongsong admitted he was manufacturing improvised explosive devices (IEDs) for some members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

“Ito ay trabaho lang talaga. Ito ang hanapbuhay ko talaga,” Sarongsong said.

Sarongsong, as well as the recovered firearms, are now in the custody of the Philippine Army's 103rd Infantry Brigade.

“Kapag hindi natin ma-check itong mga ganitong klase ng pagpa-fabricate ng mga firearms ay dadami nang dadami ang illegal firearms dito,” said NBI-Iligan chief Alex Caburnay.

“Ito talaga ang dapat i-pursue natin, na mawala yung mga loose firearms sa area ng Bangsamoro,” Col. Glenn Macasero, commander of the 103rd Infantry Brigade, said.

[Video: News report on the raid]

A separate report of GMA News TV's “Balita Pilipinas” said the NBI and the military are now investigating Sarongsong's statement that the firearms were for MILF members.

On March 27, the MILF and the Philippine government signed the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB), which aims to end the decades-long armed conflict in Mindanao.

Included in the agreement is a provision on the decomissioning firearms, which means that members of the MILF will no longer use their firearms and instead turned them over to a third party.

Sarongsong will face charges of illegal possession and illegal manufacture of firearms, the report said.

 http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/360731/news/regions/marawi-city-raid-nets-high-powered-firearms-ied-parts