Manila, Feb. 5 -- A town mayor from the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) and three aides were arrested at the Sirawan checkpoint Tuesday night for violating the election gun ban.

Col. Rodrigo Marinas Jr., commander of Task Force Davao (TFD), identified the suspects as Anwar Zumpaga Saluwang, appointed mayor of Nabalawag in BARMM's Special Geographic Area, and aides Prangco Butulan Paglas, Samsudin Ayob Kabagani, and Maroufh Abas Yusop.

The group, traveling toward Davao City in a gray pickup truck, was flagged by joint TFD and Davao City Police Office (DCPO) personnel during a routine inspection. Authorities recovered a 9mm pistol with 46 rounds of ammunition and a .45-caliber pistol with two magazines containing 1...