CAMP SIONGCO, Maguindanao — Responding to massive calls by the military to help in the disarmament campaign on loose firearms, a lady mayor in the province on Tuesday turned over 22 assorted war materials to the Army.
Mayor Bai Zandria Ampatuan of Shariff Saydona Mustapha, handed over the firearms to Brig. Gen. Diosdado Carreon, Army’s 601st Brigade commander and Lt. Colonel Edgar Catu, 40th Infantry Battalion chief, during ceremonies held at the town covered court.
Ampatuan said the firearms were collected by the local government through massive campaign in all the town’s villages.
Carreon said he was glad that town mayors responded to Army call as prescribed by Order No. 1 of the Martial Law declaration.
This month alone, Datu Piang town officials surrendered 16 firearms over the weekend, 15 were surrendered by Ampatuan town officials and another 16 from the town of Datu Abdullah Sangki leaders, all in Maguindanao.
Maj. Gen. Arnel dela Vega, Army’s 6th Infantry Division (6ID) commander, said that the cooperation of the local chief executives who have previously surrendered firearms under their jurisdiction have urged other municipalities to also peacefully surrender their weapons.
“The growing number of unlicensed guns surrendered to the 6ID has greatly contributed to the disarmament campaign of the government,” he stressed.
Since January this year, a total of 360 assorted loose firearms were so far turned over to the military in Maguindanao. (PNA)
