ZAMBOANGA CITY — The Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom) accounted for 1,337 loose firearms from January 1 until April 1 this year in line with the campaign of President Rodrigo Duterte against unlicensed guns.
Lt. Gen. Carlito Galvez Jr., Westmincom chief, told the Philippine News Agency that mostly or 574 of the 1,337 loose firearms were turned over by the municipal and barangay officials of Sulu.
The remaining firearms were accounted by the troops in the following areas: Central Mindanao, 345; Zamboanga City, 229; and, Zamanga Peninsula and Lanao (ZamPelan) areas, 189.
The Westmincom area of jurisdiction covers Zamboanga Peninsula, Lanao del Norte, Lanao del Sur, Central Mindanao, and the provinces of Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi, which are part of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).
“In line with the pronouncement of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, the campaign against loose firearms was launched by the Joint Task Forces (of Westmincom) to implement the Security, Governance and Development Strategies of Martial Law in Mindanao,” Galvez said.
The recovered firearms included crew-serve weapons such as 81-millimeter (mm) mortars, 60-mm mortars, 90-mm recoiles rifle, and caliber .50 heavy machinegun.
The others included assorted high-powered assault and sniper rifles and handguns such as pistols and revolvers.
Galvez said the campaign was sustained with the participation of local government units (LGUs) and “our peace partners” in preparation for the May 14, 2018 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections.
He said the law enforcement support operations to prevent lawless violence and curb illegal drug activities in the areas of operations of Westmincom will be sustained in cooperation with the LGUs, law enforcement agencies, and peace partners amid the implementation of Martial Law here in Mindanao. (PNA)
