5 suspected private army men fall in S. Kudarat anti-crime ops

ISULAN, Sultan Kudarat—Joint police and Marine operatives on Thursday arrested five suspected members of a private armed group and seized high-powered guns and grenades during law enforcement operation in Kalamansig, Sultan Kudarat.

Senior Supt. Raul Supiter, Sultan Kudarat police director, said the 4:30 a.m. law enforcement operation was covered by warrants of arrest and search warrants against Tenti Tau Mangarin alias Commander Winston.

But Supiter said Mangarin, a private armed group leader, managed to elude arrest as he fled when lawmen, composed of police and members of 2nd Marine Battalion Landing Team (MBLT-2), swooped down on his hideout in Barangay Datu Ito Andong in Kalamansig.

Five of his armed followers were arrested and refused to put up a fight.

“Mangarin is a high value target (HVT) of police and facing charges for illegal possession of firearms and explosives,” Supiter told the Inquirer.

Arrested were Bonao Mangarin, Usop Mangarin, Mimong Agam, Osik Mangarin and Seleno Ogib.

Seized from them were four Armalite rifles, a Garand rifle, one .45-caliber pistol, two fragmentation grenades, military uniforms and army uniforms, a binocular, assorted ammunition and magazines.

Supiter said the suspects were now detained at the Kalamansig police lock-up cell while charges for violation of Republic Act 10591 (Illegal Possession of Firearms and Explosives) are being prepared against them.

Supiter said Mangarin’s group is among the listed private armed groups in Sultan Kudarat. JPV