Grenades, firearms seized from 2 suspected MNLF men in Agusan del Norte

BUENAVISTA, Agusan del Norte — Policemen seized from two suspected local MNLF members hand grenades and firearms loaded with live ammunitions after engaging them in a brief hot pursuit operation along the stretch of the national highway in Barangay Bancasi, Butuan City on Friday evening. Buenavista Police Chief Police Inspector Ramil Tersona said Sunday he received information Friday evening from civilian tipsters who saw two motorcycle-riding suspects wearing black shirts marked “MNLF" headed toward Butuan City and carrying firearms and explosives. The tipsters told cops they sighted the two in Barangay Tinago, Buenavista, Agusan del Norte. The suspects were successfully intercepted after a brief hot pursuit operation in Barangay Bancasi, just few kilometers away from the commercial center of Butuan City. When confronted by cops the two could not present documents for the firearms they possessed. Confiscated from the suspects were a .45 caliber pistol with two magazines and one caliber .357 revolver — both loaded with live ammunition — as well as two hand grenades. Also seized was the motorcycle that the suspects used. They were later identified as “Junjun" Merlin Mangadlao, 20, single, a resident of Barangay Tudela, Trento, Agusan del Sur and Asher Cortez Paguipo, 31, married and a resident of Barangay Taglatawan, Bayugan, Agusan del Sur. The suspects are now detained at Buenavista Municipal Police Office but three unidentified persons came to the station vowing to bail out the suspects. Police claimed they will file appropriate criminal charges against the two who refused to comment. — Ben Serrano/MRT/VS GMANews.TV