THE military’s campaign against loose firearms has continued to gain support from local government units (LGUs) in its areas of jurisdiction.
On Tuesday, local officials here turned over 29 loose guns and five explosive devices. Isulan Mayor Marites Pallasigue and Association of Barangay Chairperson president Jacosalem Galmak led the ceremonial handover of the firearms to Col. Efren Baluyot, commander of the 1st Mechanized Infantry Brigade.
“Village officials collected these guns from civilians in 17 barangays in support to the military’s disarmament program,” Pallasigue said during the ceremony at the town’s municipal gymnasium.
The surrendered guns included two M79 grenade launchers, 16 shotguns, one Ingram submachine pistol, five .38-caliber revolvers, one forty-lite homemade pistol, two .45-caliber pistols, one modified 7.62mm rifle, one rocket-propelled grenade, a hand grenade, one rifle grenade, and three 40mm grenades.
Lt. Col. Alvin Iyog, commanding officer of the Army’s 2nd Mechanized Infantry Battalion (MIB), said the collection of loose firearms is one of the thrusts of the implementation of martial law in Mindanao and in compliance with the existing election gun ban.
“The Army would continue collaborating with local government units in collecting guns from unauthorized civilians to help bring about peace in the locality,” he said.
Maj. Gen. Cirilito Sobejana, 6th Infantry Division, commended Pallasigue and other local officials of this town for the successful and peaceful surrender of the unlicensed firearms.
The 1st Mechanized Infantry Brigade covers Maguindanao and Sultan Kudarat. Under the 1st Mechanized Infantry Brigade are several other battalions scattered in the two provinces that includes the 2nd Mechanized Infantry Battalion.(By Edwin Fernandez)
20
