THE municipal government of Panglima Sugala in the province of Tawi-Tawi has turned over 45 assorted loose firearms, magazines and ammunition to the Marine Battalion Landing Team-12 (MBLT-12).
The turnover of loose firearms was facilitated Saturday, December 19, 2020, by Panglima Sugala Mayor Nurbert Sahali and Lieutenant Colonel Henry Espinosa, MBLT-12 commander.
Handed over at the MBLT-12 headquarters in Bato-Bato villages, Panglima Sugala town were 15 rifles, 26 handguns, two M-79 grenade launchers, two M-203 grenade launchers, two magazines and 15 ammunition.
The loose firearms were surrendered by the village chiefs to the municipal government of Panglima Sugala, which in turn handed over to the MBLT-12.
Colonel Arturo Rojas, Joint Task Force Tawi-Tawi commander, has commended the MBLT-12 troopers for their persistence to push the government’s program to address loose firearms in the countryside, which is among the causes of conflict.
“This endeavor exemplifies the good convergence of our troops and the local chief executives of Panglima Sugala,” Rojas said.
“May this gesture of support by the local government of Panglima Sugala be a good example to other officials and communities,” said Lieutenant General Corleto Vinluan, Jr., commander of the Western Mindanao Command.
“Let us continue to work together to free the communities from loose firearms which we call the menacing tools of violence,” Vinluan added.
The firearms and ammunition were placed under the custody of MBLT-12 for documentation. (SunStar Zamboanga)