Police arrest BARMM town mayor, aides for violating election gun ban in Davao

MANILA, Philippines – Police arrested a town mayor from the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) and his three aides after they were found with firearms in Davao City in violation of the election gun ban on Tuesday, February 4.

Davao City police office identified the official as Anwar Saluwang, an appointed mayor of the new town of Nabalawag in the BARMM’s Special Geographic Area (SGA). He is seeking to get elected as the town’s mayor in the May 12 elections.

Saluwang was arrested together with his aides who were not identified by the police.

Nabalawag was appointed mayor by BARMM interim Chief Minister Ahod Balawag “Al Haj Murad” Ebrahim in 2024, following the creation of the new BARMM municipality along with seven others. The new BARMM towns comprise 63 SGA barangays carved out of Cotabato province in 2019 when the villages voted to become a part of BARMM during a plebiscite in 2019.

Police said Saluwang’s group was stopped at a checkpoint set up by the Task Force Davao in Sirawan, Toril District, early in the evening on Tuesday.

Authorities found two firearms and ammunition in the group’s possession, but they failed to present permits to carry them, prompting their detention. 

The incident occurred amid the nationwide gun ban enforced by the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) in the lead-up to the polls.

Saluwang, in a statement, said they had come from training in Davao City and that three of the vehicles were flagged during that time.

He claimed the confiscated firearms are supported with licenses and permits.

“It just happened that our application for gun ban exemption has not yet been released,” Saluwang said. – Rappler.com