OFFICIALS of the Municipality of Al-Barka have thrown their support to the implementation of the Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW) program of the government.
The SALW program seeks to lessen, if not eradicate, small arms and light weapons and prevent crimes in the communities.
The support of the Al-Barka town officials was expressed to the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on SALW program in a ceremony Friday, July 9, at the covered court of Magcawa village.
Lieutenant General Corleto Vinluan, Jr., commander of the Western Mindanao Command, said that Al-Barka is the 10th municipality that vowed support to the SALW program of the government.
The signing of MOU was witnessed by the following: Brigadier General Domingo Gobway, Joint Task Force (JTF)-Basilan commander; Police Colonel Rodrigo Maramo, Basilan Provincial Police Office (BPPO) director; Lieutenant Colonel Egverr Jonathan Abutin, 18th Infantry Battalion commander; and Basilan Governor Hadjiman Hataman-Salliman.
Gobway commended the municipal officials of Al-Barka for leading the way towards peace and harmony in the battle-stricken municipality.
“I am very pleased to see the sincerity of the local leaders to support our peaceful mechanisms and actively participate in our campaign against the proliferation of loose firearms,” Gobway said.
Among those who participated in the signing of MOU were the elected municipal and barangay officials of Al-Barka led by Mayor Darussalam Lajid.
Abutin together with Lajid presented nine loose firearms that were voluntarily surrendered by civilians from the different villages of Al-Barka.
The firearms included two M-16 Armalite rifles both attached with M-203 Grenade Launcher, six M1 Garand rifles and one Shotgun.
“The Western Mindanao Command is very grateful to the local government units and the peace-loving people of Mindanao for their overwhelming support to all our endeavors,” Vinluan said.
“I commend the hardworking officers and personnel of JTF Basilan for recovering a total of 155 loose firearms from January 2021 to date. Let us continue to work doubly to sustain the peace in the communities,” Vinluan added. (SunStar Zamboanga)