2 nabbed as troops seize grenade, firearms at Lanao Norte checkpoint

From the Philippine News Agency (Oct 13): 2 nabbed as troops seize grenade, firearms at Lanao Norte checkpoint

Military personnel arrested two suspects at a checkpoint in the Lanao del Norte town of Baloi after receiving a tip that a convoy of five vehicles en route to Marawi City may be carrying illegal weapons.

Lt. Bernardo Taqueban of the Army's 4th Mechanized Infantry Battalion, who led the checkpoint inspection in Barangay Nangka, Baloi, said they confiscated a hand grenade and two .45-caliber pistols from the two occupants of one of the vehicles.

The three other vehicles were allowed to pass after their occupants yielded no illegal firearm. However, the persons inside the fifth vehicle, Taqueban said, opened fire but missed, leading to a brief firefight with government troops.

After the firefight, Taqueban said the vehicle -- a Toyota Avanza -- fled towards the direction of Iligan City.

He identified the arrested individuals as Emma Osama Saidomar, and her driver, identified only as "Amaladin." The suspects claimed they are from Bacolod-Kalawi, Lanao del Sur.

Saidomar and her driver were turned over to Senior Insp. Alibsar Daraba, officer-in-charge of the Baloi Police, for the filing of appropriate charges.

Major Gen. Roseller Murillo, the Army’s 1st Infantry Division commander, commended the concerned citizen for providing the timely information that led to the arrest of the suspects, saying “peace and security is everybody’s responsibility.”

He also commended the troops for the arrests.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1050944