Another cache of firearms found in alleged Ampatuan ranch

A tip from concerned citizens led government troops on Sunday to a another cache of firearms and ammunition buried at an area in a ranch believed owned by the patriarch of the Ampatuan clan in Maguindanao province. The latest find included high-powered firearms that military officials said were “hastily" buried in lot in Limpongo village in Datu Hoffer Ampatuan town in Maguindanao. “May na-discover tayong firearms, 50-cal, M-16, machine guns. Ang estimate sa mga nakitang mga armas ay about 30 pero patuloy pa tayo sa paghuhukay baka meron pang nakabaon (We discovered about 30 firearms including 50-caliber machine guns and M-16 rifles. We are still looking for other ammunition)," Lt. Col. Michael Samson, public affairs officer of the Philippine Army in Shariff Aguak, said in an interview on dzBB radio. Some caretakers at the ranch have been taken in for questioning, he said. “Iimbestigahan din natin ang caretakers, CIDG will take charge sa iimbitahan na tao (We will question the caretakers. The Philippine National Police’s Criminal Investigation and Detection Group will be in charge of inviting them for questioning)," he said. Samson said the ranch supposedly belongs to Maguindanao Governor Andal Ampatuan Sr., who is under police custody in connection with the November 23 massacre in Ampatuan town. He said the search stemmed from information given by concerned citizens to them in the last several days.
For the latest Philippine news stories and videos, visit GMANews.TV The box bears the same marks of government arsenals as those found Saturday around five kilometers away from the mango orchard where the new cache was found. However, Samson said the Philippine National Police’s Scene of the Crime Operations teams will examine the firearms and ammunition. “Mga bagong baril ito at hastily tinakpan lang ng plastic (These are new firearms and were hastily covered with plastic wrapping)," he said. Also, he said they found huts that appeared to have diggings. He said they are verifying if the huts were occupied by civilian volunteer organization (CVO) members loyal to Ampatuan. There are an estimated 3,000 weapons to be searched, Samson Said. “Hindi na kailangan ng search warrant. Sa lahat ng aming mga lakad pinaiiral ang transparency that’s why sinasama ang mga media sa operations (We exercise transparency, that is why we allow media coverage in our operations)," he added. - LBG, GMANews.TV