3 nabbed for transporting firearms, ammunition for rebels

BUTUAN CITY, Philippines — Three persons including a barangay official were arrested by a joint team of the police and the military for allegedly transporting firearms and ammunition for the New People’s Army (NPA) in this city on Friday night.

Nabbed were Ferdinand Dagium, 27, councilman of Barangay San Roque, Sibagat town; Rolando Dagium, 34, and Marvin Merencillo, 26, of Bayugan City, all in Agusan del Sur.

The suspects were believed to be gun couriers of the NPA, according to Maj. Francisco Garello Jr., public affairs chief of the Philippine Army’s 4th Infantry Division.

Seized from the suspects were 4,800 bullets for AK-47 rifles, two rifle grenades and three motorcycles.

Garello said the weapons were intercepted at a checkpoint in Barangay Pianing by combined elements of the Army’s 65th and 75th Infantry Battalions, members of the city police station 4 and the Mobile Force Company.