MANILA, Philippines - Gunmen raided the house the house of a candidate for vice mayor in Claveria town in Masbate province on Saturday and took 2 high-powered firearms, an Army spokesman said Sunday.

Maj. Harold Cabunoc, Army’s 9th Infantry Division (ID) spokesman, said about 30 armed men raided the house of Monching Radan at Taguilid village around 6 a.m. Saturday. Radan is a member of the Sangguniang Bayan of Claveria and is running for vice mayor of the town in the May elections.

Cabunoc said the armed men were members of a private armed group (PAG) and posed as Army soldiers.

The Army unit spokesman said that residents of the barangay were able to identify some of the gunmen to be followers of a political opponent of Radan. He, however, declined to name the politician, pending investigation.

"Allegedly, the armed men were wearing camouflage uniform without name cloths. The residents of said barangay were able to identify some from the group as PAGs [of] an unnamed politician in the area," said Cabunoc.

"They were wearing camouflage, without name cloths, of the Army. The civilians know some of them, they were reported to be from the opposing side but we are trying to confirm this…We are investigating before we reveal a name," the 9th ID spokesman added.

Cabunoc did not say if Radan was inside the house when the gunmen came.

Cabunoc said the gunmen hastily pointed their guns to the people inside the Radan residence. The suspects reportedly immediately left and carted away a caliber 5.56 mm Bushmaster M4 rifle and an M653 rifle.

Cabinoc also did not say if the firearms the gunmen took were licensed to Radan.

The illegal raid was conducted as the military and police are implementing a nationwide gun ban during the election period.

The government has also launched a campaign to dismantle private armed groups after the bloody Maguindanao massacre.

Cabunoc said Army units have been sent to pursue the gunmen.