AS A RESULT of the continuous campaign, holders of loose firearms from 34 villages of Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao del Norte, have surrendered their assorted weapons to authorities on Friday, July 14.
The efforts of the Joint Task Force (JTF) Central, Datu Odin Sinsuat police and the local government units, resulted to the surrender of a total of 34 high-powered firearms and two ammunition in a turnover ceremony held at the Municipal Covered Court in Dalican village, Datu Odin Sinsuat town on Friday morning, July 14.
The firearms that were surrendered to military authorities include five 5.56-millimiter (MM) M16A1 rifles, two 12-gauge Shotguns, two M203 tube launchers, six 40-mm M79 Grenade Launchers, one 82-mm Rocket-Propelled Grenade, one Rocket-Propelled Grenade tube, four 9-mm Uzi Sub-Machine Guns, one caliber.22 Uzi auto Sub-Machine Gun, one caliber .22 Basic Assault Rifle, one 38-mm revolver, one caliber.50 Browning Machine Gun, one caliber .50 Sniper rifle, one caliber .30 Garand rifle, two 7.62-mm M14 rifles, two 7.62-mm M14 Sniper rifles, and three improvised Barrette 7.62-mm Sniper rifles. Also surrendered were two 40-mm grenade launcher ammunition.
Major General Alex Rillera, JTF-Central commander, has commended the troops of the 601st Infantry Brigade, particularly the 2nd Mechanized Battalion, for the significant accomplishment.
Datu Odin Sinsuat Mayor Lester Sinsuat led the ceremony for the turnover of surrendered loose firearms and was received by Colonel Nasser Lidasan, 6th Infantry Division assistant commander.
Police Colonel James Gulmatico of the Police Regional Office-Bangsamoro Autonomous Region, Sangguniang Bayan members, and village chairpersons witnessed the turnover ceremony.
Meanwhile, Lieutenant General Roy Galido, Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom) chief, said with the support from the different organizations and the peace-loving people of Mindanao, the armed forces expect to achieve more in the continuing campaign against the proliferation of loose firearms.
“Rest assured that we will not stop until Mindanao is cleared from tools of violence,” Galidao added. (SunStar Zamboanga)