Barangay officials surrender firearms to Marine Troops in Sulu

By Jong Cadion

ZAMBOANGA CITY (March 16, 2018) – Chairmen of six barangays in Siasi, Sulu surrendered assorted high powered firearms to Marine Troops at Brgy. Poblacion, Siasi, Sulu, Wednesday (March 14), military official said.

Rear Admiral Rene V. Medina AFP, Commander, Naval Forces Western Mindanao (NFWM) disclosed that the element from the 1st Marine Company (1MC) of Marine Battalion Landing Team-1 (MBLT1) led by 2nd Lt. Noah C Umipig PN(M) facilitated the surrender of the unlicensed HPFAS. Among the surrendered High powered firearms were Four M1 Garand Rifle, One clip with eight Cal. 30 ammunitions, One US M1 Carbine with six rounds of ammos, One M14 rifle and five 7.62 live ammunitions.

RADM Medina said the continuous and massive surrender of firearms in Sulu is the outcome of the constant efforts made by the Philippine Marine Ready Force Sulu and Marine Battalion Landing Team 1 in conducting series of community dialogues to the populace of different barangays in Sulu which then caused these barangay officials to lay down their firearms.

RADM Medina further said that the remaining barangays in the Municipality of Siasi also signify their intentions to handover their unlicensed firearms to the military.

The Naval Forces Western Mindanao and its Fleet-Marine Forces is confident that more firearms will be laid down by these barangay leaders and their constituents. The continues cooperation of the AFP to the LGU is beneficial in attaining a peaceful and developed Western Mindanao.