SEVEN assorted loose firearms were surrendered to military in Maguindanao, officials said.
Major General Diosdado Carreon, Army's 6th Infantry Division commander, said Mayor Edris Sindatok Al-Hadj of Datu Saudi Ampatuan, Maguindanao facilitated the surrender of the firearms around 5:25 p.m. Tuesday, December 10, during the Municipal Peace and Order Council Meeting.
The guns, consisting of five high-powered and two low-powered firearms, were turned over to the troops of the 57th Infantry Battalion led by Lieutenant Colonel Edwin Alburo and 14th Mechanized Company headed by Captain Dominador Tagorda III.
Carreon said the firearms were turned over by the village chiefs of the seven villages of Datu Saudi Ampatuan, Maguindanao.
The firearms include one homemade caliber 50 machine gun, three homemade M-79 grenade launchers, one homemade M-14, one 12-gauge homemade shotgun, and one caliber .45 pistol.
The firearms were placed under the custody of the Army's 1st Mechanized Infantry Battalion for documentation and safe keeping.
Lieutenant General Cirilito Sobejana, Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom) chief, lauded the troops for their accomplishment that led to the surrender of the loose firearms.
"As we welcome another year, I urge you to remain steadfast in carrying out your mission for the common good," Sobejana said. (SunStar Zamboanga)