Talayan: Alert police personnel manning a checkpoint operation in Talayan, Maguindanao del Sur, arrested two women for possession of assault rifles found inside their sports utility vehicle (SUV) on Thursday afternoon. Col. Michael John Mangahis, the provincial police director, stated that police officers conducting a plain view inspection at the checkpoint discovered a rifle beside the passenger seat of the SUV. Further inspection revealed another rifle in the back seat.
According to Philippines News Agency, Mangahis identified the women as alias Samsiah, who was driving the vehicle and a resident of Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao del Norte, and her companion, alias Janine, of Cotabato City. Both women failed to show documents legalizing their possession of assault rifles with ammunition.
Mangahis reported that a Bushmaster rifle, a VLTOR rifle, and sets of magazines and ammunition were found in the car. Police have increased checkpoint operations after recent gun attacks in Maguindanao del Sur and del Norte, including a daylight ambush on Mayor Akmad Ampatuan Sr.'s convoy and the killing of five police officers in Shariff Aguak.
Authorities are preparing charges against the two women now detained at the Talayan municipal police station detention facility.
