OFFICIALS of Pikit, North Cotabato have surrendered 133 unlicensed guns to government authorities, a military official said Tuesday, July 3.
Brigadier General Cirilito Sobejana, Army’s 6th Infantry Division commander, said this came after the municipal officials of Pikit convinced their constituents to surrender their unlicensed guns.
Sobejana said Pikit Mayor Sumulong Sultan led the turnover of high and low powered firearms in a ceremony held on Monday at the town’s gymnasium and was witnessed by North Cotabato Governor Emmylou Taliño-Mendoza.
The firearms that were surrendered consisted of the following: 14 rocket-propelled grenades; 22 M-79 grenade launchers; 13 M-14 rifles; three M-16 rifles; 17 mussel rifles; one M4 rifle; 13 shotguns; 26 Barret rifles; nine mortars; 12 carbines; and, three Uzi.
The firearms were collected from all the 42 villages of Pikit town including its mayor and local officials.
Sobejana expressed his gratitude for the initiative of the mayor and his villages’ chairpersons for their commitment to sustain the campaign of the government against loose firearms.
He said the town of Pikit is the local government unit in North Cotabato that surrendered unlicensed guns to military authorities.
The other three towns and the firearms they surrendered were the following: Carmen, 102; Midsayap, 119; and, Matalam, 150. (SunStar Philippines)