76 Abu surrenders, 652 loose firearms presented to President Duterte

PAGADIAN CITY (March 27, 2018) - President Rodrigo Roa Duterte received loose and undocumented firearms and Abu Sayyaf surrenderees in Patikul, Sulu yesterday (March 26).

Western Mindanao Command (WESMINCOM) information officer Capt. Jo-Ann D. Petinglay said that during the ceremony, military commanders led by WesMinCom Commander Lieutenant General Carlito G. Galvez, Jr., presented 652 firearms to the President.

Capt. Petinglay said that also attended the turn-over ceremony were Sulu Local Government Units headed by Governor Abdusakur “Toto”Tan II and the Municipal LGUs, Mayor Hatta Berto of Pandami Municipality, Mayor Arthur Muksan of Siasi, Mayor Al-Frazier Abdurajak of Panamao, Mayor Allayon Arbison of Luuk, Mayor Hadar Hajiri of Lugus, Mayor Nasser Daud of Tapul, Mayor Benshar Estimo of Panglima Estimo, Mayor Amilhamja Taib of Pangutaran, Mayor Abraham Burahan of Panglima Tahil, Mayor Peping Halun of Kalingalan Caluang, Mayor Whajid Sahidulla of Tongkil, Mayor Madzhar Loong of Parang, and residents of the province.

Capt. Petinglay disclosed that the 652 firearms yielded in Sulu consisted of 9 Caliber .50 machine guns, 3 Caliber .30 machine guns, 4 units of 81mm mortars, 5 units of 60mm mortars, 2 units of 90mm recoilless rifles, a 57mm recoilless rifle, 5 units of Barret sniper rifles, a Rocket-Propelled Grenade/B40, an M60 Machine Gun, 138 units of M16A1 rifles, 31 units of M14 rifles, 373 units of M1 Garand rifles, 14 units of M2 Carbine rifles, 7 units of AK47 rifles, 26 units of M79 Grenade Launchers, 6 units of M203 Grenade Launchers, 9 BARs, 6 G1/FAL, a shotgun, 3 KG9, 6 Caliber .45 Pistols, and a Caliber .38 pistol.

Of the 652 loose firearms presented to President Duterte yesterday, 332 were yielded to the JTF Sulu in earlier this year, while 320 firearms were turned over by the local officials to the troops in Barangay Busbus, Jolo, Sulu on March 24, Capt. Petinglay said.

Capt. Petinglay also said that the Local officials on March 24 turned over three 81mm mortars, a 60mm mortar, a 90 recoilless rifle, two Caliber .50 HMG, a Caliber .30 LMG, an M60 GPMG, a K3 SAW, 49 M14 7.62mm rifles, 141 M16A1 5.56mm rifles, three M4/R4A3 5.56mm rifles, 14 M653 5.56mm rifles, 14 M203 Grenade Launchers, 174 M1 Garand rifles, seven Caliber .30 Carbine rifles, an AK-47 7.62mm Kalashnikov rifle, an FN FAL 7.62mm, 15 M79 Grenade Launchers, a Barret, three BAR Caliber .30 rifles, two G-1/Sig 7.62mm rifles, 21 Caliber .45 pistols, a Caliber .38 revolver, a Caliber .22 rifle, four KG9 9mm Uzi, and two shotguns.

Governor Tan turned over six firearms consisting of a Caliber .30 Light Machine Gun, a 57mm RL, a Caliber .50 Heavy Machine Gun, a Rocket-Propelled Grenade 7, a 60mm Mortar, and a Barret.

Mayor Berto yielded 31 firearms composed of a Caliber .50 heavy machine gun, five M16 rifles, an M203 Grenade Launcher, six M14 rifles, three G1 rifles, and 15 Caliber .30 Garand rifles.

Mayor Muksan handed over 51 firearms consisting of 35 Caliber .30 Garand rifles, four M14 rifles, a BAR, two Carbine rifles, two M79 Grenade Launchers, five M16 rifles, a FAL, and a Caliber .50 Heavy Machine Gun.

Mayor Abdurajak yielded 35 firearms, consisting of 11 Caliber .30 Garand rifles, two BAR, 16 M16 rifles, three M79 Grenade Launchers, an M14 rifle, a FAL, and a Caliber .50 HMG.

Mayor Arbison turned over 44 firearms composed of 13 Caliber .30 Garand rifles, two M14 rifles, 15 M16 rifles, an M60 rifle, a 90 Recoilless Rifle, two Caliber .50 HMGs, seven AK47, an 81mm mortar, an M203 Grenade Launcher, and an M79 Grenade Launcher. Mayor Hajiri yielded 23 firearms composed of three Carbine rifles, 17 Caliber .30 Garand rifles, and three Barrets.

Mayor Daud yielded an M16 rifle and 15 Caliber .30 Garand rifles.

Mayor Estino turned over 23 firearms composed of five M16 rifles, nine Caliber .30 Garand rifles, four M14 rifles, two M79 Grenade Launchers, a BAR, a 60mm Mortar, and a Barret.

Mayor Taib handed over 31 rifles consisting of 25 Caliber .30 Garand rifles, an M14 rifle, an M16 rifle, an M203 Grenade Launcher, and three M79 Grenade Launchers. Mayor Burahan yielded 10 Caliber .30 Garand rifles.

Mayor Halun turned over 14 rifles composed of a Caliber .50 HMG, a 60mm mortar, 11 Caliber .30 Garand rifles, and an M16 rifle.

Mayor Sahidulla yielded 35 firearms consisting of two M79 Grenade Launchers, an M203 Grenade Launcher, two M16 rifles, six Carbine rifles, two BAR, and 22 Caliber .30 Garand rifles.

Mayor Loong handed over a Caliber .50 HMG.

 For this year alone, a total of 1,079 loose firearms were yielded to and recovered by the Joint Task Forces under the WestMinCom in the joint area of operations.

“This showcases the harmonious relationship and trust built between local government units and the security sector as principal actors in building peaceful and progressive communities in Mindanao amid our sustained campaign to end lawless violence and demilitarize armed groups in the regions. Notwithstanding this success, we will continue to employ a diplomatic approach in calling for the involvement of local officials and other partners for peace. I attribute this to the efforts exerted by our troops in conducting dialogues and tapping local officials in Western Mindanao,” said Lieutenant General Galvez, Jr.

“This is just the beginning of Sulu becoming a peaceful province. I made the politicians think that loose firearms are causes of criminalities. If the number of firearms is reduced, this will significantly result in the deterrence of the crime rate in the province. The local officials are very supporting of the President’s campaign, although they are emotionally affected. They bid to change the mindset and change their thinking that the firearms are symbols of authority,” also said Brigadier General Cirilito Sobejana

Lieutenant General Galvez, Jr. also presented 76 Abu Sayyaf surrenders to the Commander-in-Chief.

Out of the 76 Abu Sayyaf members presented to the President, 48 surrendered last year to Joint Task Force Sulu units while 28 surrendered this year. The surrenderers also turned over a total of 205 firearms to the government.

 “I came here to see that the Abu Sayyaf surrenderers are treated just like the communist terrorists surrenderers. Every time they surrender, someone has to take over and look after them. The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) will be tasked to teach them new skills,” said President Duterte.

From January 1, 2017 to March 26, 2018, a total of 202 Abu Sayyaf members yielded to the Joint Task Forces in the joint area of operations, 85 of whom surrendered in Basilan, 79 in Sulu, 36 in Tawi-Tawi, and two in Zamboanga City.

“Sulu, in time memorial, has suffered violence again and again. I have been here many times, but the situation is just the same. I don’t abhor you (Abu Sayyafs) because I understand the situation. As the president, I want to help you but, first, help me bring peace for the Moros in Mindanao. I am the only president that has a heart for the Muslims. All those who want to surrender are welcomed but those who want to fight, know that the government is ready,” PRRD added.

Also present during the activity were Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, Cabinet Secretary Leoncio Evasco, Jr., National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon Jr, Secretary Arthur Tabaquero, the Presidential Adviser for Military Affairs, Secretary for the Interior and Local Government Eduardo Ano, TESDA Director General Secretary Guiling Mamondiong, General Rey Leonardo Guerero, AFP Chief of Staff, Rear Admiral Rene Medina, commander of the Naval Forces Western Mindanao Command, Mayor Kerkar Tan of Jolo, Sulu and former Sulu Governor Abdusakur Tan.

Said turnover ceremony was held at the Multi-Purpose Gym Capitol in Patikul, Sulu at 2pm yesterday (March 26). (With WesMinCom PR)