Army, PNP arrest wanted man, seize high-powered arms

From the Philippine News Agency (Sep 25): Army, PNP arrest wanted man, seize high-powered arms

Military security forces seized early Sunday high-powered firearms and arrested a notorious bandit in Bagumbayan, Sultan Kudarat.

Lt. Colonel Harold Cabunoc, commander of the Army's 33rd Infantry Battalion based here, said the raid was conducted at sitio Sapale, Barangay Kabulanan, Bagumbayan town at around 6 a.m.

Elements of 33rd IB, led by Capt. Rogelio Agustin, and local police of Bagumbayan served the warrant against Dodong Baylon for murder and multiple murder charges.

Cabunoc said Baylon, the most wanted man of adjacent Sen. Ninoy Aquino town, also in Sultan Kudarat, was the primary target of operation, but he managed to escape.

“Baylon is accused of murdering a lumad a few years ago. Our informants told us that he was coddled by a certain Commander Morix, a notorious leader of armed thugs,” Agustin said in a report.

Commander Morix, a Maguindanaon Muslim, was leader of a gang preying on indigenous peoples and farmers in the hinterlands of Sen. Ninoy Aquino, but hiding in Bagumbayan town.

Cabunoc said government forces recovered 12 firearms including one rocket-propelled grenade, one M-16 Assault Rifle, two M-14 Assault Rifle, one Cal 30 Springfield, a 12-gauge Shotgun, three M-79 Grenade launchers, and a cal .38 revolver.

Commander Morix is now detained at Bagumbayan police lock up cell while charges for violation of Republic Act 10591 (Illegal Possession of Firearms and Explosives) are being prepared against him.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1010619