TROOPS from the Philippine Marines have arrested a commander of the Moro Islamic Liberation (MILF) in Malabang town in Lanao del Sur for violating a gun ban, the military said.
The ban was declared by the PNP in Lanao del Sur and Maguindanao provinces, and 63 barangays in North Cotabato following the February 17 ambush of Lanao del Sur Gov. Mamintal Adiong Jr.
Adiong and one of his companions in a vehicle were injured in the attack that took place in Maguing town, also in Lanao del Sur. His four other companions were killed.
The AFP Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom), in a statement on Saturday night, said Sambitory Mangigin alias Ben, commander of the General Headquarters Base Command of the MILF’s Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces, was nabbed last Thursday by personnel of the Marine Battalion Landing Team 2 manning a checkpoint near Ocsio Memorial Elementary School in Barangay Diamaro in Malabang.
The Westmincom said Mangigin, also chairman of the United Bangsamoro of the political party Justice Party, yielded a cal. 45 pistol with magazine and eight rounds of ammunition.
His Ford Ranger vehicle was also impounded, the military said.
Mangigin was turned over to the Malabang police station, the military said.
