Illegal guns, ammo seized from cop, cohort in GenSan checkpoint

From the Philippine News Agency (May 8, 2021): Illegal guns, ammo seized from cop, cohort in GenSan checkpoint (By Richelyn Gubalani)

ILLEGAL GUNS. Some of the high-powered firearms and other illegal items seized from suspects Staff Sgt. Abdul Gani Macadla (left) and former Police Officer 1 Warden Husain Legawan (center), who were stopped at a checkpoint of the Regional Highway Patrol Unit 12 (Soccsksargen) in Barangay Apopong, General Santos City on Friday (May 7, 2021). Also in photo is city police director, Col. Gilberto Tuzon. (PNA-GenSan photo by Richelyn Gubalani)

GENERAL SANTOS CITY – Police recovered at least eight illegal firearms, including five high-powered rifles and assorted ammunition, while being transported to this city by an active policeman from Sultan Kudarat province and a dismissed colleague on Friday.

Lt. Col. Alan Ladra, chief of the Regional Highway Patrol Unit (RHPU) 12 (Soccsksargen), said the illegal items were seized from Staff Sgt. Abdul Gani Macadla, 36, and former Police Officer 1 Warden Husain Legawan, 39.

The two were intercepted by operatives in a checkpoint in Barangay Apopong aboard a car en route to the city proper at about 12:30 p.m.

Ladra said their men were conducting an operation under Oplan Lambat Bitag when they flagged down a white Toyota Vios sedan with an unauthorized license plate and noticed that its driver was not wearing a seatbelt.

He said the two men on board reportedly acted suspiciously, prompting the team to conduct a “plain view” inspection of the vehicle.

“They initially spotted some suspicious items and eventually found the illegal firearms and ammunition,” Ladra told reporters.

Recovered were a 9mm Glock pistol loaded with 21 ammunition, 9mm pistol with 15 bullets, a caliber .45 handgun with six bullets, five M-16 Armalite rifles, five steel boxes containing 1,000 rounds of M-16 ammunition, and 44 long steel magazine for M-16 rifle.

Ladra said the suspects reportedly came from Sultan Kudarat and were delivering the firearms to the area when they were stopped at the checkpoint.

The two, now under the custody of the city police, reportedly refused to provide details of their transaction.

The suspects and the seized items were presented to the media on Friday night by RHPU-12 officials, led by Ladra, and city police director, Col. Gilberto Tuzon.

Macadla, a resident of Purok Masagana, Barangay Kalawag II, Isulan, Sultan Kudarat, was listed as an active policeman assigned to the Esperanza municipal police station in the province.

Ladra said Legawan, who hails from President Quirino town, Sultan Kudarat, was reportedly dismissed from police service after being implicated in the Nov. 23, 2009 Ampatuan massacre while assigned in Maguindanao but was eventually acquitted.

The two will be charged with violation of Republic Act 10591 on the unlawful possession of firearms and ammunition.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1139564