TWENTY-FOUR unlicensed guns were surrendered by local officials in Maguindanao del Sur as a result of the 1st Mechanized Infantry Brigade’s relentless campaign against the proliferation of loose firearms.
The firearms were surrendered on Wednesday, August 23, by the chairpersons of the 19 villages of General Salipada K. Pendatun (GSKP) town.
The loose firearms were handed over to Lieutenant Colonel Jayson Domingo, Commanding Officer of 1st Mechanized Infantry Battalion.
The 1st Mechanized Infantry Brigade said the turnover ceremony held at the municipal gymnasium was presided over by GSKP Mayor Rafsanjani Ali.
The firearms were formally received by Brigadier General Andre Santos, commander of the 1st Mechanized Infantry Brigade and witnessed by police, military and government officials.
The firearms that were surrendered include: two .9-millimeter (mm) Tomgram sub-machine guns; two caliber .45 pistols; four caliber .38 pistols; one caliber .357 pistol; two 7.62-mm Sniper rifles; one caliber .50 Sniper rifle; one caliber .30 Mauser Sniper rifle; four 12-gauge Shotguns; two caliber .30 M1 Garand rifles; one rocket-propelled grenade launchers; two 40-mm M79 Grenade Launchers; one caliber 5.56-mm M16 rifle; and assorted ammunition.
The 1st Mechanized Infantry Brigade said the firearms and ammunition are currently under the custody of the 1st Mechanized Infantry Battalion for safekeeping and proper disposition.
Lieutenant General Roy Galido, Western Mindanao Command chief, said the government forces intensified the campaign against the proliferation of loose firearms to ensure an honest, orderly, and peaceful Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections on October 30.
“It is one of the security measures that we undertake to assure the public that they are free to exercise their right to suffrage,” Galido said. (SunStar Zamboanga)