Authorities discovered Sunday another huge arms cache in a property belonging to the powerful Ampatuan clan in Maguindanao, most of them with “DND Arsenal” markings indicating they came from the government’s military armories.

This as Justice Secretary Agnes Devanadera said members of the Ampatuan clan and other officials who were arrested after martial law were imposed in Maguindanao over the weekend may not be brought to Manila due to security concerns.

Officials said at least 39 high-powered firearms along with thousands of rounds of ammunition were dug up in the property of the Ampatuans in Datu Hoffer town. It was the second such find in the province.

The discovery also bolstered suspicions that government military hardware had been finding their way to private armies in the province as indicated by the DND (Department of National Defense) and Armscor markings in the recovered guns like some of those recovered last week in a vacant lot near one of the mansions of the Ampatuans.

The arms cache was unearthed at around 10:40 a.m. Sunday in a ranch owned by the Ampatuan patriarch at Sitio Puting Bato, Barangay Limpongo, Datu Hoffer town.

Army 601st Infantry Brigade commander, Col. Leo Ferrer, said among those seized were one M-14 and 13 M-16 rifles, one Carbine, one AK-47, one grenade launcher, five Ultimax, two M-16- light machineguns, one cal .50 machinegun, one cal .30 machinegun, three Garand rifles, mortar ammunition, and thousands of rounds of ammunition.

Military and police authorities said search operations will continue as the latest find indicates there could more weapons and ammunition that are yet to be recovered.

A tip from concerned citizens reportedly led government troops to the stash of artillery and ammunition at the Ampatuan ranch.
Lt. Col. Michael Samson, a spokesman of the AFP in Maguindanao, said the firearms and ammunition appear to have been hastily buried.

“These are new firearms and were hastily covered with plastic,” Samson said.

He said they also found huts that appeared to have diggings. They are now verifying whether the huts were occupied by civilian volunteer organization (CVO) members loyal to the Ampatuans.

The AFP official said there are about 3,000 weapons to be searched.

Some caretakers of the ranch were also taken into custody for questioning by authorities, Samson said.

Devanadera meanwhile said security arrangements may not be sufficient if the Ampatuan family members, who were rounded up since Saturday, were to be brought to Manila.

“Sa dami ng naaresto hihilingin namin na sa halip ilipat dito sa Manila, doon na lang sa area," she said in an interview on dzBB radio Sunday morning.

Security forces took into custody several local government officials including clan patriarch Andal Ampatuan Sr. and three other sons who have been linked to the Nov. 23 massacre in the province where 57 civilians, including scores of journalists, were killed.

Andal Sr. was taken into government custody before dawn Saturday, but had to be brought to the Davao Doctors Hospital in Davao City after his blood pressure shot up.

Press Secretary Cerge Remonde cited reports from the field on Saturday that the patriarch would be transferred to the Eastern Mindanao Command where there is a military hospital.
Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao Governor Zaldy and his brothers, acting Maguindanao Governor Sajid Islam and Shariff Aguak mayor Anwar, were brought to the provincial police headquarters in Maguindanao.

Devanadera said the DoJ is concentrating on filing separate cases of multiple murder and rebellion against those arrested. Under the 1987 Constitution, she said, those arrested during martial law ought to be freed after three days if government fails to file a case against them.

“Kailangan namin ma-file ang cases…in three days," she said.
On Saturday, Devanadera said a “looming rebellion" prompted the declaration of martial law in Maguindanao as armed groups had shut down municipal halls and government offices.
She said there is enough evidence to file rebellion cases against those arrested last Saturday.

“Our evidence is strong. This was not an ordinary disorder. It had an armed component, the elements of rebellion are there. Allegiance or loyalty to the Republic had been removed," she said.

PNP spokesman, Chief Supt. Leonardo Espina said the others who have been taken into custody were Maguindanao Vice Gov. Akmad Tato Ampatuan, Mayor Anwar Ampatuan, Paisal Sulaik, and Cahoner Ampatuan.