A cache of high-powered firearms and various ammunition were confiscated by agents of the Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) from a former overseas Filipino worker (OFW) in Lanao del Norte Friday afternoon.
Police Lieutenant Colonel Raymund Liguden, CIDG-10 director, identified the suspect as Mary Ann Canoy, 36, of Brgy. Labuay, Maigo, Lanao del Norte.
Canoy was nabbed by agents of the CIDG Lanao del Norte Provincial Field Unit (PFU) who served a search warrant at her house around 4 p.m.
Liguden said the CIDG Regional Field Unit (RFU-10) earlier received an intelligence report that Canoy’s house was being used as a storage of high-powered guns and ammunition which will allegedly be used in the May 13 midterm elections.
The search warrant was issued by Alberto Quinto, presiding judge of 12th Judicial Region, Kapatagan Lanao del Norte Regional Trial Court, Branch 21.
Seized during the operation were a shotgun, two units of Colt M16 A1, an Elisco M16 A1 with tampered serial number, two Garand rifle, six units of bandoliers, a holster, a Llama caliber .45 pistol, two magazines for caliber .44 firearm and three boxes of assorted ammunition.
“The firearms and boxes of ammunition were hidden under a wooden bed,” Liguden noted.
However, Canoy claimed that she didn’t know about the cache of firearms and ammunition stored in the house. She said she was only acting as caretaker of the house.
Liguden said they have conducted a follow-up investigation to validate Canoy’s claims and to determine if she is connected to a private armed group in the province.
The CIDG detained Canoy at its headquarters in Lanao del Norte while a case for violation of Republic Act 10591 or Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act was being prepared against her for filing before the prosecutor’s office. (Martin Sadongdong)