Camp Col. Rafael C. Rodriguez, Butuan City – New Peoples Army (NPA) member was collared by the PNP and AFP operatives during the chokepoint in Purok 1, Barangay Taguibo, Butuan City last Tuesday, June 8, for gun and explosives paraphernalia.
Police Brigadier General ROMEO M CARAMAT JR, PRO13 director identified the arrested NPA member as Mamerto Salahay alias “Mamer”, 43 years old, male, married and a resident of P-12A, Poblacion, Sibagat, Agusan del Sur.
Salahay was known member of Special Operations Group (SOG), Sub-Regional Committee, Guerilla Front 16 and is operating in the municipality of Sibagat, Agusan del Sur.
RD CARAMAT JR said the joint operatives of Regional Intelligence Division, PRO13 together with City Intelligence Unit of Butuan City Police Office, Butuan City Mobile Force Company, Butuan City Police Station 4, City Explosives Canine Unit (CECU), Regional Explosives and Canine Unit (RECU) 13, 29th Infantry Battalion, 901st Brigade, 4SRB, Armed Forces of the Philippines conducted chokepoint and flagged down a passenger multi-cab which Salahay was on board around 8:15AM.
Accordingly, Salahay was monitored going to Barangay Taguibo and Barangay Anticala in Butuan City bringing along with him firearm and explosives as he was tasked to deliver the items to unknown NPA leader in the said place.
Aside from the arrested person, authorities confiscated a green and black colored backpack; three rolls of leg wire (detonating cords); four pieces of improvised blasting caps; 26 pieces of galvanized steel pipes; black sling bag; a caliber .45 Rock Island M1911 A2 FS-TACT with SN: 017407AFP; a caliber .45 magazine; Eight live ammunition of caliber .45 ; blue Oppo cellular phone; two vehicular tools; six pieces of sender blade; a CIGNUS radio with antenna; credit card; 20 pieces 7.62×39 ammunition; maroon wallet; Php100 peso bill; Php10 peso coin; Php5 peso coin; and four pieces of Php1 coin.
“Regardless of our counterinsurgency efforts with the Philippine Army, we have also strengthened our legal offensive to bring these terrorists behind bars of justice. We have sufficient proof to convict him for the crimes he was charged with,” RD CARAMAT, JR added.
Violation of RA 10591 “Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act” and RA 9516 “Unlawful Manufacture, Sale, Acquisition, Disposition or Possession of Firearms or Ammunition or Instruments Used or Intended to be Used in the Manufacture of Firearms of Ammunition” is being filed against the suspect.(PMaj. Dorothy M. Tumulak)
(Source: Caraga Pulis Pio Facebook account)