By Francis T. Wakefield
Twenty-four heavily armed Moro Islamic Liberation Front members were arrested in a checkpoint in Barangay Melib, Sultan sa Barongis, Maguindanao.
Army 6th Infantry Division spokesperson Capt. Arvin Encinas said a section of the Alpha Co. of the 40th Infantry Battalion intercepted the 24 members of the 106th MILF Base Command under Commander Orly Gampung onboard a yellow Mazda Bongo with temporary license plates 901-74704.
Seized from them were 18 M16 rifles, five M14 rifles, and one M16 rifle with M203 grenade launcher without pertinent documents at about 8:15 p.m. Tuesday.
Encinas said the MILF members were on their way to Ampatuan, Maguindanao to resolve the conflict between two MILF commanders when they were intercepted.
He said they have been released through the peace mechanism of the Government of the Philippines-Moro Islamic Liberation Front Coordinating Committee on the Cessation of Hostilities.
Encinas said the seized firearms are under the custody of the Army 40th IB for safekeeping.
“It will be turned-over properly trough the GPH-MILF CCCH peace committee,” Encinas said.