Gov’t forces thwart group’s election day violence plan, seize firearms and IED factory in Maguindanao

A JOINT military and police operation over the weekend in Sultan sa Barongis, Maguindanao led to the arrest of four people suspected to be part of a group planning an attack during the May 13 midterm elections. In a statement, the Western Mindanao Command (WestMinCom) said the team was serving a warrant of arrest to Teddy Biang on May 4 when the three others were also apprehended for possession of prohibited drugs, high-powered firearms and deadly weapons. The troops also recovered drug money amounting to P338,500, assorted ammunition, drug paraphernalia, commercial radio transceiver, and other deadly weapons. Other members of the group fled the scene and during pursuit operations, the government forces discovered an area surrounded by marijuana plants and a structure used for storing dried marijuana leaves and seeds as well as scrap metals and metal fragments used to make improvised explosive devices (IED). “According to our source, the recovered assorted firearms and other deadly weapons are going to be used to disrupt the safe and orderly conduct of midterm national and local election 2019,” said Lt. Col. Elmer Boongaling, commanding officer of the 33rd Infantry Battalion. Village officials assisted in uprooting the marijuana plants and burning the area, including the makeshift structure, according to WestMinCom.