A hundred crew-served and high powered firearms handed over to military in Maguindanao

By Jong Cadion

ZAMBOANGA CITY (March 28, 2018) - Another 106 firearms were voluntarily handed over by officials and locals of four municipalities in Maguindanao Province to the Joint Task Force Central on March 26 and 27, 2018, military official said.  

Western Mindanao Command (WestMinCom) PIO Cpt Jo-Ann D. Petinglay

said that while President Duterte was in Sulu to receive hundreds of unregistered armaments and Abu Sayyaf rebel returnees, Major General Arnel Delavega, Commander of the Joint Task Force Central and his subordinate commanders also received 100 armaments from the officials of Mamasapano, Pagalungan and Datu Montawal Municipalities.

At 9am Monday (March 26), thirteen (13) barangays of Mamasapano, Maguindanao headed by the Municipal Mayor, Hon Tahirodin Benzar A Ampatuan voluntarily surrendered 25 assorted firearms to 40th Infantry Battalion in a simple ceremony at the Municipal Hall of Mamasapano. The event was witnessed by the Officers and personnel of Mamasapano Municipal Police Station (MPS) together with DILG personnel headed by Mr Ricardo Padulino, other local officials and residents of the said municipality. The LGU of Pagalungan headed by Municipal Mayor, Hon Salik Mamasabulod also surrendered 45 assorted unregistered firearms to 7IB and 602Bde before noon time the same day. In the afternoon, Mayor Montawal of Datu Montawal municipality also turned-over 30 assorted loose firearms.

Cpt Petinglay further said that the following armaments that were surrendered were listed as follows: two 60mm mortars; two M16 rifles with attached M203 GL; 17 M14 rifles; 15 cal 50 Barret (HM); 12 M1 Garand rifles; two 5.56mm Ultimax rifles; four cal 30 M1 Carbines; one cal 30 Springfield rifle (bolt action); one cal .45 pistol; three M79 grenade launchers; five Rocket Propelled Grenade Launchers; 12 40mm Grenade Launchers; three cal .45 (HM) KG9 machine pistol; one 9mm (HM) Uzi machine pistol; one cal .45 (HM) Uzi machine pistol; one Winchester pistol; 17 12-gauge shotguns; and one baby (HM) Thompson.

Tuesday (March 27) at 9:15 AM, 6 armaments including one mortar were turned over by officials of Shariff Aguak Municipality to Lieutenant Colonel Enrique Clement.

Municipal Mayor Marouf Ampatuan led the turnover of one 60mm mortar; one M79 grenade launcher; one M4 carbine rifle; one barret; one uzi, and one Ingram pistol to the authorities.

“Units took custody of the surrendered firearms and were brought to their respective headquarters for initial inventory, documentation, and safekeeping,“ said Major General Arnel Delavega.

“We will continue to work convincing others to surrender their undocumented firearms in the entire Joint Task Force Central’s area of operations.”

The surrender of firearms is part of the “Balik Baril” Program initiatives of the local government of Maguindanao amid the intensified campaign of the AFP against proliferation of loose firearms in the implementation of Martial Law in Mindanao. For 2018 alone, a total of 293 undocumented firearms were already turned over to the authorities in Maguindanao Province, Cpt Petinglay added.

“We would like to reiterate our call to all peace loving people of Western Mindanao to cooperate in the President’s campaign to clear the country of undocumented firearms,” said Lieutenant General Carlito Galvez, Jr., Commander of the Western Mindanao Command.

“You decide the soonest while you can still be free from the legal liabilities. Once the probation period is over, you will be legally charged if firearms are recovered in your possession.”

“Since we started this campaign, we know that the number handed over will just comprise 10percent of the entire number of loose FAs in the entire Western Mindanao.”

“Decide now and become a part of the effort to bring peace in Mindanao and in the entire country,” added LtGen Galvez.