Manila cops arrest 10 armed men bearing MNLF identification cards

MANILA, Philippines – Over a dozen members of the Moro National Liberation Front were arrested Monday after they were found in possession of several firearms while they were inside a school in Manila, police said.

Superintendent Ernesto Tendero, Manila Police District-station 2 commander, said 15 men were arrested inside the Rosauro Almario Elementary School at Zaragoza Street in Tondo, Manila around 2:30 p.m.

He said officers manning an assistant desk noticed the group looked “suspicious,” prompting them to call their attention.

When police officers asked what they were doing there, the group claimed that they were just looking for a companion who has a relative living in Tondo, which they said, might be at the school to vote.

“Pero imposible namang boboto sila doon, eh hindi naman sila taga Tondo (But it’s impossible they would vote there; they are not Tondo residents in the first place),” Tendero said, noting that the group were from Davao.

When searched, police then recovered three caliber .45 and 9mm pistols, along with identification cards bearing the MNLF Bangsamoro logo.

Tendero said their affiliation with the MNLF was later confirmed by Nur Misuari, the founding chairman of MNLF.

The men are now under police custody at the MPD station 2.