AN ALLEGED supplier of illegal drugs and five others have surrendered and turned over high-powered firearms to authorities in the province of Sulu, military officials said.
The Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom) identified the drug surrenderers as Alkap Jallao, 28; Hassan Jallao, 45; Alakaiser Jaamil; Alkubar Basarati, 37; Murphy Sallialam, 38; and Omar Caudra, 36.
They surrendered to the Army's 45th Infantry Battalion and policemen of Patikul, Sulu on Thursday, June 11.
Major General Corleto Vinluan, commander of the Joint Task Force Sulu, said Alkap Jallao is a notorious drug dealer in the town of Patikul.
"The previously conducted series of anti-drug operations, which resulted in the apprehension of a number of drug suppliers in Barangay Bangkal, Patikul, Sulu, weakened the drug dealing activities of subject personalities, which eventually forced them to return to the folds of law," Vinluan added.
He said they turned over one M-16 Colt Baby Armalite rifle, one Intratec 9-mm Luger Sub-machine gun, one M-16 short magazine with 13 rounds of 5.56-millimer (mm) ammunition, and one 9-mm magazine with 21 rounds of ammunition.
"This accomplishment is attributed to the peace-loving people of Sulu who relentlessly support us in the implementation of Executive Order No. 70," said Lieutenant General Cirilito Sobejana, commander of Westmincom.
"Let us continue to converge to end lawlessness and achieve lasting peace and progress here in Mindanao," Sobejana added. (SunStar Zamboanga)