DATU ODIN SINSUAT, Maguindanao del Norte — Police arrested a 34-year-old man on Friday evening after he allegedly fired his firearm indiscriminately during a heated altercation in Barangay Baka, in yet another gun-related incident reflecting the region’s persistent gun culture despite ongoing law-enforcement efforts.
DOS Municipal Police Station (DOSMPS) Commander PLTCOL Esmael Madin identified the suspect only as alias Anwar, a resident of the barangay and reportedly separated from his spouse. The complaint was filed by a neighbor identified as alias Datu, 33, also a resident and a driver.
According to police, the suspect was involved in a physical confrontation with a relative earlier that evening, which allegedly triggered him to retrieve a firearm and attempt to shoot the person he had quarreled with. At around 7:45 p.m., residents called authorities after hearing gunshots and seeing the suspect brandish the weapon.
Before police arrived, barangay officials tried to calm the suspect, but he reportedly refused to cooperate. When responding officers attempted to approach him, Anwar resisted and forcibly grabbed his child, using the minor as a shield while threatening to kill any officer who would attempt to arrest him.
Police officers engaged the suspect in a calm negotiation, eventually convincing him to surrender peacefully. Authorities recovered an Uzi 9mm submachine gun loaded with eight rounds. When asked for documents proving legal possession, the suspect failed to present any.
The suspect is now in police custody and is facing multiple charges, including violation of Republic Act 10591 (Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act), Alarms and Scandal, Grave Threat, and Direct Assault.
Authorities noted that this incident is just one of the many firearm-related cases recorded in Maguindanao del Norte and nearby provinces — an ongoing challenge in a region where gun culture remains deeply ingrained despite intensified police operations and community interventions.
Police reiterated their call for residents to settle disputes peacefully and to report individuals illegally possessing or misusing firearms to prevent similar incidents from escalating into tragedy.