Datu Anggal Midtimbang, Maguindanao del Sur — A routine police checkpoint in Barangay Adaon, Datu Anggal Midtimbang turned into a significant law enforcement success after two individuals were apprehended for illegal possession of a firearm and violation of the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) gun ban.
The arrest took place around 8:30 PM on April 13, 2025, when personnel from the Datu Anggal Midtimbang Municipal Police Station (DAM MPS), with support from the Regional Mobile Force Battalion 14-A of Police Regional Office Bangsamoro Autonomous Region (PRO BAR), flagged down a Kawasaki 125 motorcycle with a sidecar during a standard checkpoint operation.
Upon inspection, authorities recovered a Taurus .45 caliber pistol with serial number NFP75522, one magazine loaded with eight live rounds, Php 1,440 in cash, and two keys believed to belong to an Aerox motorcycle.
The two suspects are now under the custody of the DAM MPS as formal complaints are being prepared for violations of Republic Act 10591, also known as the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act, and the COMELEC gun ban, which remains in effect during the election period.
The operation is part of the intensified efforts by the Maguindanao del Sur Provincial Police Office (MDSPPO) to strengthen security measures and prevent election-related violence across the province.
PCOL Ryan Bobby C. Paloma, Acting Provincial Director of MDSPPO, lauded the checkpoint team for their vigilance and commitment to public safety. He also reiterated the police force’s call for the public’s cooperation, reminding citizens that the illegal possession and transport of firearms remain serious offenses, especially during the election season.