15 Misuari men held in Manila

MNLF MEN UNNERVE MANILEñOS Members of the Manila Police District pick up 15 armed members of the Moro National Liberation Front whose presence near a polling center alarmed residents in Tondo on Monday. RICHARD A. REYES

Fifteen men belonging to the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) were arrested by the Manila police Monday afternoon when their presence alarmed residents near a school serving as one of the polling centers for the midterm elections.

When apprehended, the burly men yielded a .9-mm and three .45-cal. pistols as well as P269,000 in cash, according to Supt. Ernesto Tendero Jr., commander of the Manila Police District station in Moriones, Tondo.

“They claimed they are here to raise funds for their chairman,” Tendero said, referring to MNLF leader Nur Misuari.

The officer did not elaborate but said “an investigation into their real purpose here in Manila is going on.”

Tendero said concerned citizens alerted the police to the presence of the men when they arrived in a Nissan van around 5 p.m. in front of the Almario Elementary School in Tondo.

When questioned, they claimed they were passing by the school to wait for another MNLF member who “voted there,” he said.

The men also said they were scheduled to fly back to Davao City Monday night.

Reelectionist Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim, who rushed to the police station following the arrest, said they were members of the MNLF based on his conversation with Misuari.

The MPD was set to charge them for violating the election gun ban.

Seven of the men were identified by the MPD as Rolando Olamit, Nelson Mustapha, Abducani Waradje, Jalim Madjid, Jeffrey Osim, Salbil Abdulhan and Nelson Ampa.—With a report from Tessa Distor and Catherine Carvajal