81 loose FAs handed-over by Lanao del Sur residents to authorities in just in three days

By JONG D. CADION

PAGADIAN CITY (March 21, 2018) - Residents and officials of Western Mindanao is in full throttle to support President Rodrigo Roa Duterte’s campaign to eliminate and recover all loose and undocumented firearms.

Western Mindanao Command (WESMINCOM) information officer Capt. Jo-Ann D. Petinglay said that recently 81 high-powered and low-powered firearms were voluntarily handed-over by residents and officials of three municipalities of Lanao del Sur to Tabak Division Chief Brigadier General Roseller Murillo, commander, Joint Task Force Zampelan.

Capt. Petinglay said 54 firearms were voluntary turned-over by residents of Lumba Bayabao and Masiu all of Lanao del Sur  in a simple ceremony in the town halls of both municipalities last March 24, 2018.

“This endeavor was made possible through the continuous collaboration of our infantry units and the local chief executives of Lumba Bayabao and Masiu municipalities relative to the national campaign against loose FAs,” said Major General Murillo.

Capt. Petinglay said also attending the activities were officials of the municipality and the commander of 49th Infantry Battalion Lieutenant Colonel Edgar Allan Villanueva.

The FAs composed of cal 5.56 rifles; 7.62 rifles; cal .30 M1 and M2 carbine rifles; shot guns; cal .45 pistols; cal .38 pistols; cal .357 pistols; and cal .22 pistols, Capt. Petinglay added.

He also said that just yesterday (March 26) at 6 in the morning, another 27 loose firearms were also handed over by the people of Maguing, Lanao del Sur to commander of 63rd Infantry Battalion Lieutenant Colonel Rizaldo Laurena.

The FAs include one cal .30 Machine Gun; three cal .30 M1 carbine rifles; 11 M16 5.56 rifles; one M4 5.56 rifle; two M14 rifles (one with scope); five shot guns; and five 9mm Ingram pistol/uzi, the military official said.

In a statement, MGen Murillo said that the firearms were immediately transported to the military camps for documentation and checking.

“These (firearms) will eventually be subject for demilitarization similar on what we did to the recovered firearms in Marawi in order to prevent the use deadly weapons in committing crimes and lawless violence,”

he disclosed.

As of March 26, the firearms that were surrendered to JTF Zampelan already reached 162. Based on the previous reports, the first batch of turn overed firearms accounted for 43 from Piagapo Municipality last March 18 and 11 from Lumbatan Municipality last March 18.

For the entire Western Mindanao Area of Operations, a total of 1,304 firearms were already handed over to the security forces with the following breakdown: 179 from Joint Task Force Central; 185 from Joint Task Force Zampelan; 222 from Joint Task Force Zamboanga; and 718 from Joint Task Force Sulu.

“In line with the pronouncement of our President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, the campaign against loose firearms was launched by the entire Western Mindanao Command through our Joint Task Forces to implement the Security, Governance and Development Strategies of Martial Law in Mindanao,” said WesMinCom commander Lieutenant General Carlito G Galvez, Jr.

“We would like to urge other officials and residents to do the same in order to free communities from these menacing tools of violence.”

“If those who have already handed-over their firearms can do their share and have shown of their commitment to a peaceful community, there will be no reason for others to do the same,” added LtGen Galvez.(With WesMinCom PR)