Another 54 loose firearms and ammunitions turned-over in Lanao del Norte town

By JONG CADION

PAGADIAN CITY, Zamboanga del Sur (July 12,2018)  – A total of fifty four assorted loose firearms and twenty three assorted ammunitions were turned-over to Joint Task Force “ZamPeLan” in Lala, Lanao del Norte after the municipal local officials urged and convinced their constituents to surrender their loose firearms, Military Official said.

Division Public Affairs Office (FPAO) Chief Maj. Ronald E. Suscano said that no other than Lala Mayor Allan J. Lim led the ceremonial turn-over and documentation of the loose firearms with the presence of other local officials and military personnel led by Col Pacianito DZ Castillo CAV (GSC) PA, Deputy Commander of the 2nd Mechanized Brigade, at the town’s evacuation center Monday July 09, 2018.

Suscano added that Major Gen. Roseller G Murillo, Army’s Premier Division Chief and concurrent Commander of JTF ”ZamPeLan” said that he is grateful for the initiative and collaboration of the municipal local officials and the 5^th Mechanized Battalion under Ltc Ronel R. Manalo for their commitment to sustain the campaign of government against loose firearms.

After the inventory, turned-over firearms include one 7.62mm rifle, three 5.56mm, seven cal.22; ten cal.38 revolvers, twenty five gauge shotguns, three cal .45 pistol, four 12 gauge pistol and one cal.22 (pellet) airgun, Maj. Suscano said.

Meanwhile, a joint military and police operations was conducted on 05 July serving a warrant of arrest to a fugitive, a certain Ali Lope @Lucky 9 in Balo-I, another town of Lanao del Norte. Though @Lucky 9 was able to escape, the said joint law enforcement operations resulted to the recovery of one M16 rifle (defaced) with scope and NVG, three CCTV, one binocular, several assorted ammunitions and magazines, four sachet of shabu amounting to P4,000.00, other drug paraphernalias, some personal belongings, one Nissan patrol, and one Honda wave motorcycle, DPAO Chief disclosaed.

“Our government forces will also continue hunting down the criminals to safeguard the civilians and put an end to this menace of society”, Maj Gen Murillo added.

A hot pursuit operation is ongoing tracing the escape route of the fugitive @Lucky 9 while the loose firearms turned-over are now at Hqs, 5th Mechanized Battalion for safekeeping and proper disposition, hDPAO Cheif also said.]]