By Jong Cadion
ZAMBOANGA
CITY (February 10, 2018) - Local
officials and residents of Pata, Sulu surrendered 20 more high-powered firearms
and war materials to the Joint Task Force Sulu, Friday (February 9) morning,
military official said.
Western
Mindanao Command (WestMinCom) information officer Cpt
Jo-Ann D. Petinglay disclosed that voluntarily
surrendered were four M16 rifles; an M653; a Bar for Caliber .30; 13 Garand rifles;
a Sig 7.62; rounds and magazines of various caliber. The firearms and war materials were turned
over by the municipal and local officials and the residents to Brigadier
General CirilitoSobejana, the JTF Sulu commander, at the detachment of the 31st
Marine Company in Barangay Simbangon, Pata, Sulu at 10:05am Friday.
”This was a result of the relentless efforts
of our forces in the campaign against loose firearms to pave the way for peace
and progress in the province of Sulu,” said Brigadier General Sobejana.
Cpt
Petinglay further said that on February 2, Pata Island Mayor Anton Burahan and
some barangay officials voluntarily surrendered a cache of weapons and
ammunition, consisting of three 81MM Mortar tubes, a 90 RR crew-served weapon,
a barrel of Cal .50 MG, four M16 rifles, three M14 rifles, five Garand rifles,
an M79 Grenade Launcher, and a hundred rounds of ammunition. The surrender came
following a successful combat operation launched by the Philippine Fleet-Marine
Ready Force Sulu that yielded to the discovery of an arms cache in Barangay
PisakPisak, Pata Island on January 31.
“We are
intensifying our intelligence and combat operations to monitor and gather loose
firearms in line with the President’s directive to immediately confiscate all
unlicensed firearms including that of soldiers and policemen,” said Lieutenant
General Carlito G. Galvez, Jr., commander of the Western Mindanao Command.
“As we
sustain our momentum, we encourage all those who have a stake in the future of
Sulu to take steps against terrorism and support our
campaign to remove all tools and implements for violent extremism.
” In a span
of 10 days, 48 firearms were already seized from Pata island, Sulu. Of this
number, one was recovered in Barangay PisakPisak, Pata Island, Sulu last
January 31; 18 firearms were surrendered by Pata island Mayor last February 2;
nine firearms from Barangays Niyog-Niyog, Kayawan and Kanjarang were
surrendered last February 5 and another 20 firearms on Friday (Feb. 9).
“This all
indicates that our campaign is on the right track. We are happy that our
strategy of diplomatic mentoring is working among the different areas of
WestMinCom.”
“We are
looking for more positive results under the prudent and effective
implementation of Martial Law in Western Mindanao.”
“I would like the people to know that their
armed forces through WestMinCom is dead serious in removing all the vehicles of
violence all over the region. I therefore enjoin everybody to join us in making
Sulu and other areas safe for all of us,” the WestMinCom Chief adds.
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