COTABATO CITY — The town of Shariff Aguak in Maguindanao province responded to the Army’s appeal for help to convince civilians to surrender their loose firearms by turning over 13 high-powered guns on Tuesday.
Shariff Aguak Mayor Marop Ampatuan presented the firearms to Col. Ralph Raul Sespeñe, deputy 601st Brigade commander, following a Municipal Peace and Order Council (MPOC) meeting.
Ampatuan said the guns were collected from civilians in 13 villages, including Tukanalipao, where the bloody misencounter occurred between Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) elements and the elite Special Action Force (SAF) unit, in what is now known as the “Mamasapano tragedy”.
Ampatuan could not say if some of the guns turned in by the civilians were used in the Jan. 25, 2015 police operation to get Malaysian terror bomber Zulkifli Abdhir alias “Marwan” that left 44 SAF members and 17 others killed.
The SAF operatives shot dead Marwan during the operation after putting up a fight, and were on their way out when engaged by Moro rebels.
Ampatuan said it was for the Army to determine through ballistic examination whether some of the guns were used in the ill-fated incident.
The government is currently maintaining a comprehensive peace overture with the MILF organization.
On Monday, Mamasapano Mayor Tahirodin Benzar Ampatuan handed over 25 assorted firearms to Lt. Col. Edgar Catu, commander of the Army’s 40th Infantry Battalion commander.
On the same day, Pagalungan Mayor Salik Mamasabulod surrendered 45 high-powered guns that included machine guns and mortars, while Datu Montawal Mayor Vicman Montawal handed over 30 firearms to Col. Alfredo V. Rosario, commander of the 601st Infantry Brigade.
The four mayors said they support the call of President Rodrigo R. Duterte to cleanse Mindanao of loose guns to help bring about peace on the island.
Captain John Arvin Encinas, Army’s 6th Infantry Division (ID) spokesman, said among the war materiel turned over by the town mayors were 60-mm. mortars, homemade rocket-propelled grenade launchers, rocket-propelled grenade tubes, M-16 rifles, M-14 rifles, homemade caliber .50 Barrett, homemade caliber .30 Barrett M1 Garand rifles, 5.56-mm. Ultimax machine guns, M1 carbines, homemade 40-mm. grenade launchers, KG-9 rifles, homemade M79 rifles, homemade Baby Thompson, caliber .30 Springfield Bolt Action, and caliber .45 pistols.
Maguindanao Gov. Esmael Mangudadatu said the surrender of guns was part of the “Balik Baril” program initiated by the local government in support of the government’s campaign against the proliferation of loose firearms.
Major Gen. Arnel B. dela Vega, 6ID commander, lauded the town mayors for heeding the Army’s call but called on the local executives to gather more guns still in the hands of unauthorized individuals.
Since Jan. 1, a total of 287 has been turned over to the military in Maguindanao. (PNA)
