SULTAN SA BARONGIS, Maguindanao — Another batch of 20 loose firearms were handed over by local officials of Maguindanao to the Army’s 40th Infantry Battalion and the Army’s 1st Mechanized Infantry Battalion at the municipal gymnasium here Wednesday.
In simple ceremonies, Mayor Ramdatu Angas led the formal turn over of the 20 assorted high-powered firearms to Brig. Gen. Bismarck Soliba, the 1st Mechanized Brigade commander; Brig. Gen. Diosdado Carreon, the 601st Infantry Brigade commander; and Senior Supt. Agustin Tello, the Maguindanao police provincial director.
“This is our gesture of support to President Duterte’s disarmament program,” Angas said during the program, adding that the “Balik Baril Program” of the local government has been getting positive response from Moro gun owners.
The civilian gun owners, whom the mayor did not identify, surrendered two M-14 assault rifles, four Garand rifles, a Carbine rifle, two cal. 50 Barrett sniper rifles, two M-79 grenade launcher, four rocket propelled grenades, a Springfield rifle, a homemade grenade launcher, an M-203 grenade launcher, and two submachine guns.
Maj. Gen. Arnel dela Vega, the 6th Infantry Division commander, said the campaign against loose firearms, which started on January 1, has so far resulted in the recovery of 179 weapons of various caliber in Maguindanao.
He lauded the collaboration of local officials and the military for the recovery of the undocumented firearms from the hands of unauthorized individuals.
“This (disarmament) is for the good of all of us and the next generation,” dela Vega said in a statement. (Edwin Fernandez/PNA)
