A software engineer who was helping aggregate donations of relief goods bound for violence-wracked Marawi City chanced on a cache of ammunition and assorted gun accessories in a bag and promptly reported his discovery to authorities in Mandaluyong City.
The person who made the discovery, identified as AJ Salvani Tobbarubias, counted at least 159 caliber 9mm bullets, a holster and a gun cleaner.
He told police the cache was among the donated relief goods that he was helping to pack in preparation for shipping to Marawi City.
He said they were unable to monitor precisely how or from whom it came from, because they had just put up a large box in the office for anybody who wished to donate to drop their stuff in.
Police Supt. Joaquin Alva, commander of the Mandaluyong Police Station, said authorities are looking at several possible angles, including whether or not this was a trial balloon or test case by which to see if it would be possible to send over arms surreptitiously to lawless elements packed along with donated relief goods.
He warned that persons involved with capers like this run the risk of being charged with rebellion. There is also a law against unauthorized possession of live ammunition.
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