Military continuously support peace initiative in Tawi-Tawi

PAGADIAN CITY, Zamboanga del Sur (June 17, 2021) - To sustain peace and development initiatives of the local government units, military officials continue to call on owners of undocumented firearms to surrender them to the government forces.

“For sustainable peace, I urge those who are still having unlicensed firearms in possession to turn it over to the military or police,” said Lt. Gen. Corleto Vinluan, Jr., Commander, Western Mindanao Command.

This statement of the Commander came following the handing over of loose firearm and ammunition by a resident of Tawi-Tawi to the marine troops on June 11, 2021.

A 54-year-old man from Ponduhan Lagasan, Barangay Datu Baguinda Puti, Sitangkai turned over one Springfield M1 Garand rifle with magazine clip and eight rounds of live ammunition to the marine troops at the 312th Marine Company Headquarters in Barangay Poblacion, same municipality.

Joint Task Force Tawi-Tawi Commander Brig. Gen. Arturo Rojas said the drive to clear Tawi-Tawi from loose firearms will continue until all owners of unlicensed firearms are disarmed.

“Our goal is to rid the society from instruments of violence to sustain the peace and security in the province,” Brig. Gen. Rojas stated.

The surrendered firearm was placed under the custody of 312MC for safekeeping.

According to Lt. Col. Aladdin Caluza, Commander of the Marine Battalion Landing Team – 12, the successes they reap in the campaign against the proliferation of loose firearms are attributable to the collaboration and cooperation between the military and the local government units as well as the positive response of the civilians to the government’s call.

Since January 2021, JTF Tawi-Tawi gained a total of 41 loose firearms, 26 of which are high-powered and 15 are low-powered. (By JONG CADION with reports and photos from WestMinCom-PIO)

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