Guns, ammunition seized in Lanao mayor’s house

MANILA, Philippines - High-powered firearms and assorted ammunition were confiscated when police raided the house of a town mayor in Lanao del Sur over the weekend.

The raid on Marantao town Mayor Mohammad Ali Abenal’s house is part of the campaign against loose firearms, said Director Cipriano Querol Jr., head of the Directorate for Intelligence of the Philippine National Police.

Querol said Gov. Mujiv Hataman of the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao, Lanao del Sur Gov. Mamintal Adiong Jr.  and barangay and town officials witnessed the raid.

Among those confiscated were two light machine guns, two Armalite rifles, a .22 caliber rifle, thousands of assorted ammunition, assorted magazines, a tri-pad for a .50 caliber machine gun and two gunner shields.

Querol said Abenal was turned over to the custody of Adiong, who promised to present the town mayor for inquest.