CAMP SIONGCO, Awang, Maguindanao—Government troops have recovered a total of 1,041 loose firearms in most of Central Mindanao, even as President Rodrigo Duterte has twice placed under martial law the country’s second largest island since last year.
The recovery of loose firearms had been prompted by instances of friendly persuasion which was gaining support from all sectors, including the local government units and the police, said Lt. Gen. Arnel de la Vega, commanding-general of the Army’s 6th Infantry Division based here.
Maguindanao Gov. Esmael Mangudadatu, from whose province more the 800 of the firearms came from, said the country was much safer, less this huge number of firearms surrendered to or recovered by the authorities.
In a related development:
A sub-leader and five members of the Abu Sayyaf Group surrendered to government troops on Wednesday in Basilan, the military said on Thursday.
Capt. Ian Dexter Pablo, spokesman of the 4th Special Forces Battalion, said a special operation of the Joint Task Force Basilan led by Brig. Gen. Juvymax Uy resulted in the surrender of Abu Sayyaf sub-leader Apan Apino alias Mudzrin and five group members in Barangay Sinulatan, Tuburan, Basilan province.
Three M16 rifles, two M1 Garand rifles, one M79 grenade launcher, and assorted magazines and ammunitions were recovered by the troops.
The bandits were “already tired of running away and evading government forces,” the military said, noting that “hunger and boredom of being away with (sic) their families” also prompted them to surrender.
Mangudadatu said while it was true that crime rates were at times higher in the metropolis, the fact remained that 70 percent of government’s peace and order concern had been focused on the provinces of Muslim Mindanao.
President Rodrigo Duterte received two field commanders of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighter along with more than 800 firearms in his April 25 visit hosted by Mangudadatu and his son Board Member Jhazzer Mangudadatu.
Identities of the two BIFF commanders have been kept under wrap by authorities for security reason.
The President also held a closed-door meeting with the Mangudadatu brothers, including Pandag town Mayor Freddie Mangudadatu, even as he publicly acknowledged Manguindanao Representative Zajid Mangudadatu as one of his senatorial bets in the May 2010 elections.
When asked what the meeting was all about, Maguindanao Assemblyman Khadafeh Mangudadatu said he was used to seeing the President since he was the mayor of Davao City where he stayed during his college years.
Pressed further, Assemblyman Mangudadatu said it was because he had turned over his MG 30 Cal; 7.62 Cal and 5.56 Cal, a set of valued collection considered “worth a fortune” in the Moro culture.
Meanwhile, De la Vega said at least 22 more assorted loose firearms were surrendered by the local leaders of Datu Paglas town in a ceremony held at the town’s municipal hall on May 4, 2018.
In a statement De la Vega said the firearms were surrendered by Datu Paglas Mayor Abubacar Paglas to Lt. Col. Harold Cabunoc, 33rd Infantry Battalion commanding officer.
Datu Paglas is the third municipality within the areas of 33rd IB to have complied with the directive of President Duterte to collect and hand over loose firearms.
Among the firearms surrendered were 2 Garand rifles, 1 Carbine caliber .30, 1 SAW, 4 M14 rifles, 1 M16, 1 Barret caliber .30, 6 Springfield bolt action, 1 M7, 3 shot guns, and 2 Sub machine guns.