MATI CITY, Davao Oriental — Authorities discovered several live ammunition and firearm accessories at a public cemetery in Mati City on November 1, 2025, as residents observed Kalag-Kalag (All Souls’ Day).
According to a report from the Mati City Police Station, a concerned citizen turned over a small sack containing a brown bag filled with 129 pieces of 5.56mm live ammunition and two M16 magazines to police personnel assigned at the Public Cemetery in Barangay Sainz.
The discovery took place around 11:27 a.m. when the citizen, a businessman and resident of Magapo-3, Barangay Central, was cleaning his brother’s grave. While clearing the area, he reportedly stumbled upon the hidden sack and immediately reported it to the police officers stationed at the cemetery under the Ligtas Undas 2025 security deployment.
Upon verification, investigators from the Mati City Police Station conducted an on-site inspection and confirmed the presence of the ammunition and firearm magazines. The recovered items were subsequently brought to the station for proper documentation and disposition.
Acting Chief of Police PLTCOL Frederick C. Sa-ao commended the citizen for his honesty and vigilance, emphasizing that public cooperation plays a vital role in maintaining peace and order.
“The Mati City Police Station expresses its heartfelt appreciation to the concerned citizen for his integrity and support in our crime prevention efforts,” the statement read. “We continue to encourage everyone to actively support our campaigns against criminality, terrorism, and illegal drugs for a safer and more peaceful community.”
The police are currently investigating the source and possible purpose of the abandoned ammunition and magazines.