A TOTAL of 10 loose firearms were surrendered to authorities as a result of the intensified campaign against unlicensed guns in Tawi-Tawi, as the 2022 national and local election is fast approaching, a top military official said.
Newly promoted Brigadier General Romeo Racadio, Joint Task Force (JTF)-Tawi-Tawi commander, said the 10 loose firearms were surrendered Friday, January 28, to the Marine Battalion Landing Team-12 (MBLT-12) in the town of Sitangkai, Tawi-Tawi.
Racadio said the unlicensed firearms were surrendered by the following: Amil Sarahadil Abbas, 39; Morgan Jawlah Lukoh, 74; and Polding Awbaw Polal, 28, all residents of Sitio Ponduhan Suwangpukol Lappasan in Panglima Alari village; Hadji Ismael Imran Mauh, 73, of Poblacion village; and Ismael Ibrahim, 47, of Sitio Ponduhan Sapa-Sapa Asibih in Datu Baguinda Putih village.
Racadio said they yielded one grenade launcher with three rounds of live ammunition; one M16 baby Armalite rifle with six long magazines, seven short magazines, and 48 rounds of live ammunition; one Garand rifle with 36 rounds of live ammunition; one Carbine rifle with one magazine and 28 rounds of live ammunition; and six caliber .45 pistols.
Racadio, who is also the 2nd Marine Brigade commander, said the firearms were surrendered as a result of the series of dialogues and security forums jointly conduct by MBLT-12 troops and policemen together with community council leaders.
"We continuously conduct wide and joint information disseminations through dialogues and security forums with regards to the campaign of RA 10591 and the implementation of election gun ban in connection with the upcoming national and local elections," he said.
Republic Act (RA) 10591 is also known as the Comprehensive Firearms and Regulation Act.
The surrendered loose firearms and ammunition were placed under the custody of 212th Marine Company in Poblacion village, Sitangkai, Tawi-Tawi for safekeeping prior to formal turnover to higher headquarters.
Lieutenant General Alredo Rosario Jr., commander of the Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom), commended the efforts of the MBLT-12 and partners to keep the peace and order in the communities.
"Rest assured that we will continue to intensify our security operations in preparation for the election," Rosario said. (SunStar Zamboanga)