A former mayoral candidate in an Occidental Mindoro town was arrested Tuesday for illegal possession of firearms and ammunition, Philippine National Police reported.

Ramon Alcantara, who previously ran for mayor of Abra de Ilog, was taken into custody after authorities raided his house in Barangay San Vicente at 4:05 a.m., police said.

The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) seized a .45-caliber handgun and a .33-caliber rifle, along with 446 assorted bullets during the operation.

The raid was conducted under a search warrant issued by a Palawan court for violation of Republic Act 101591, the Comprehensive Law on Firearms and Ammunition.

Alcantara also faces warrants of arrest for murder and four counts of frustrated murder issued by an Occidental Mindoro court, according to police.

“This is the reason why we have been focusing on strategic operations to account for all these fugitives, particularly those in the most wanted list from municipal to national levels,” police said.

However, human rights group Karapatan-Southern Tagalog condemned the arrest, describing Alcantara as “a staunch advocate of indigenous people’s rights” who is “actively resisting mining operations in Mindoro.”

The group accused the government of attempting to link Alcantara to an armed encounter between soldiers and communist rebels in Abra de Ilog on Nov. 26, 2025.

“These forms of harassment and intimidation only reflect the worsening state of human rights in the country,” Karapatan said.

CIDG-Calabarzon chief Lt. Col. Ganaban Ali said Alcantara is listed by the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency as a leader of the National Democratic Front.