MANILA, Philippines - Elements of a joint military-police task force arrested a barangay captain in Masbate province for hoarding unlicensed firearms inside his home.

Senior Superintendent Eddie Binigay, Masbate police director, identified the barangay official as Genuino Remulta, village chief of Tan-Awan, Placer, and a known political leader.

Binigay said elements of Special Task Force Masbate headed by Senior Superintendent Victor Deona raided Remulta's home at 5 a.m. by virtue of a search warrant. He said authorities had received a tip that Remulta was hiding a weapons cache inside his house.

Seized from his home were 2 armalite rifles and a caliber 45 pistol, all unlicensed.

The Philippine National Police has listed Masbate among nine provinces considered as election areas of concern (EAC) due to the presence of threat groups, history of election-related violent incidents in previous elections, and activities of Partisan Armed Groups.

The communist New People’s Army has established three Guerilla Fronts in Masbate with 93 active members armed with an estimated 113 firearms. With a report from Noel Alamar, radio dzMM