MANILA, Philippines – Ten men were nabbed on Monday, October 2, for illegally carrying firearms while entering the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) headquarters in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City.

“The very reason why we put them on hold is because they had brought guns, which they did not have the authority to hold. So we turned them over to the Philippine National Police (PNP),” AFP Public Affairs Office chief Colonel Edgard Arevalo said in a mix of English and Filipino.

According to Arevalo, the men claimed membership to the “Southeast Asia Collective Defense Treaty.”

They entered at around 5:45 am, and were interrogated immediately. They claimed they were on their way to present a “letter requesting accreditation” to National Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana.

They had no appointment with the defense chief, according to records.

They were turned over to the Quezon City Police Station 8.

The team was led by their supposed “chief intelligence” Daniel Pagalan. The members were:

1. Pascula Dizon, also known as Kumander Haslim
2. Rolando Mahusay, also known as Kumander Melody
3. Dioscoro Danis 
4. James Iwayan
5. Butch B Galimba 
6. Rico Giducos 
7. Ramil B Peralta 
8. Rundy Paderes 
9. Alvin Simbahon

Seized from the suspects were 5 pistols, and 7 magazines with 47 caliber 9mm and 26 caliber .45 live ammunition – Rappler.com