Guns, grenade seized from Maguindanao vice mayor’s house

MAGUINDANAO, Philippines — No illegal drugs were found, but four rifles and a grenade were recovered when  police raided the house of Vice Mayor Otto Montawal of Montawal town in this province on Thursday, authorities said.

The Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) police said Montawal would be charged with illegal possession of firearms and explosives.

Two of Montawal’s bodyguards – Mentak and Belag, both surnamed Alon – were killed in an alleged shootout with members of the raiding team.

Montawal eluded arrest along with his brother Andy, the incumbent town mayor, and his son Vicman, who were also the subjects of the search warrant.

Montawal’s wife Krishel denied allegations that the vice mayor is into the illegal drug trade. She also accused members of the raiding team of taking a ”hefty sum” of  money and other personal belongings from their house in Barangay Talampas during the raid.

Authorities disputed Krishel’s claim, saying it was only meant to discredit police officers who participated in the operation.

Personnel of the Northern Mindanao and Soccksargen police assisted ARMM law enforcers in the raid.