KIDAPAWAN CITY (MindaNews / 10 July) – Police here filed on Tuesday charges of violation of the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act against a member of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) operating in North Cotabato and Sultan Kudarat.
Charged for violation of Republic Act 10591 at the City Prosecution Office was Willy Marcha, security aide of a certain Datu Lito Monreal who claims to be chief minister of the MNLF Mount Apo sub-state based in Kidapawan City.
Supt. Ramel Hojilla, city police director, said Marcha was intercepted during a highway inspection along the boundary of Kidapawan City and Makilala, North Cotabato on Saturday.
Marcha, according to Hojilla, was carrying an unlicensed Norinco caliber .45 pistol.
The MNLF member was immediately placed under police custody.
On Tuesday, a case of violation of RA 10591 was filed against him.
On Sunday, a certain JR Inday of Magpet, North Cotabato was apprehended by elements of the Army’s 901st Infantry Brigade and the Kidapawan City PNP for carrying unlicensed Colt caliber .45 pistol during a highway check at Barangay Kalasuyan.
The suspect’s arrest came hours after a shooting incident at Barangay Lanao, this city, around 10:45 p.m. Monday, where the victim was identified as a certain Melmer Omandac, 27, and an employee of the small time lottery being owned and managed by the Miracle Pick Gaming Corporation.
Omandac, before the attack, was slapped with several charges of violations of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Act of 2002.
Hojilla has yet to know whether JR Inday was behind Omandac’s killing.
Inday’s gun, he explained, was already submitted for cross-matching at the Cotabato Provincial Police Crime Laboratory in Kidapawan City. (Malu Cadelina Manar / MindaNews)
