ZAMBOANGA CITY: Police have arrested at least 75 people, including six jail guards and mostly detainees allegedly being used as private armed groups in Pagadian City, Zamboanga del Sur. Helen Galvez, regional police spokesman, said the weekend operation resulted in the mass arrest and confiscation of guns and ammunition in Barangay Dao. The identities of the jail guards were not provided but Galvez said the detainees allegedly served as utility workers and hired killers. The mass arrest coincided with the clash between security forces and an armed band in Labangan town, within the vicinity of Pagadian, where two gunmen were killed and another arrested. Security forces also recovered an M14 automatic rifle, one KG9 submachine gun and a caliber .45 pistol, including two cell phones from the slain gunmen.

Source: Manila Times May 13, 2018 13:07 UTC