FOUR law-abiding residents of Bongao, the capital of Tawi-Tawi, have surrendered four loose firearms to the authorities, a top military official said Friday, June 23, 2023.
Brigadier General Romeo Racadio, Joint Task Force (JTF)-Tawi-Tawi commander, said the unlicensed guns they turned over include one M16A1 rifle, one M79 Grenade Launcher, one M1 Garand Springfield rifle, and one Springfield Bolt-action rifle.
The unlicensed firearms were handed over to Lieutenant Colonel John Paul Jacla, Marine Battalion Landing Team-7 commander, on Thursday, June 22.
The turnover ceremony was witnessed by Village Chief Dastala Bakki and was held at the village hall of Malasa, Bongao, Tawi-Tawi.
Lieutenant General Roy Galido, commander of Western Mindanao Command, commended the marine officers and soldiers of JTF-Tawi-Tawi for the relentless campaign against loose firearms.
“We intensified our campaign against the proliferation of loose firearms to free the communities from violence and achieve our common aspirations,” Galido said. (SunStar Zamboanga)