GOVERNMENT troops have seized high-powered firearms from a gun factory supplying the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) in Maguindanao, officials said Friday, February 15.

Colonel Gerry Besana, Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom) information officer, said the firearms were seized when the troops, armed with a search warrant, swooped down the residence of Abusama Abpun, 60, around 6 a.m. Friday in Poblacion village, Buluan town, Maguindanao.

Besana said among the firearms that were seized included three M4 Carbine rifles, an M1 Carbine rifle, six 9-mm Tomgram guns, a 12-gauge shotgun, a tripod for Caliber .50 heavy machinegun, and several unassembled firearms.

He said that Abpun manufactures and supplies firearms to criminal elements, including the BIFF.

The military official said the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) headed by Senior Superintendent James Gulmatico managed to obtain video footages showing Abpun repairing a gun of a BIFF member.

Lieutenant Colonel Harold Cabunoc, Army’s 33rd Infantry Battalion commander, said the confiscation of the firearms have virtually removed logistics support source of the BIFF and other lawless elements in the area.

“We will defeat them by cutting off the sources of their weapons,” Cabunoc said.

Major General Cirilito Sobejana, Joint Task Force Central commander, commended the troops and vowed to support the local government in keeping the peace in the area.

Lieutenant General Arnel Dela Vega, Westmincom chief, said they will intensify intelligence buildup and complement police operations to disarm terrorists and debase their external support. (SunStar Philippines)