Arms, explosives seized in raid on suspected MILF leader’s house

MALITA, Davao del Sur –Government security forces seized a cache of assorted high-powered and explosives from the house of a suspected Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) leader during a raid here early morning Saturday.

Superintendent Huberto Abadia, deputy provincial police director, said during the raid on the house owned by Ghalib dela Cruz in Barangay Fishing Village here, a combined team of policemen and soldiers seized a Barret 50 caliber sniper rifle, two rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) launchers, two RPG propellers, two RPG fillers and 13 rounds of 50 caliber bullets.

He said a tipster told police that Dela Cruz was keeping unlicensed firearms inside his house.

Abadia said police secured a search warrant from the court and asked the military to provide additional personnel during the raid.

“With the large number of explosives hidden inside the house, a single explosion would put so many civilian lives in danger,” Abadia said.

He said the police were conducting further verification of the suspect’s identify following information he was a leader of the MILF.

But Abadia said charges for violation of Republic Act 8294 or the illegal possession of firearms law was being readied against Dela Cruz, who remains in police custody.