Local officials surrendered 24 more loose firearms to the Philippine Army in Maguindanao del Sur on Tuesday, August 23, as a result of the 1st Mechanized Brigade’s continuing campaign.
The firearms were surrendered by the chairpersons of the 19 barangays of General Salipada Pendatun town to Lt. Col. Jayson Domingo, Commanding Officer of the 1st Mechanized Battalion.
The turnover ceremony was held at the Municipal Gymnasium and was presided over by GSKP Mayor Rafsanjani Ali.
The firearms were formally received by Brig. Gen. Andre Santos, Commander of the 1st Mech Brigade.
The activity was witnessed by Police Cpt. Lucky Siegfred Sibayan, Chief of Police of GSKP Municipal Police Station; Vice-Mayor Norodin Masukat; Mr. Eusoph G Kari, Election Officer of GSKP; and the 19 barangay chairpersons headed by Mr. Abraham Masukat, ABC President of GSKP; and the Sangguniang Bayan of GSKP.
Surrendered were two 9mm Tomgram Sub-Machine Guns; two Cal .45 pistols; four Cal .38 pistols; one Cal .357 pistol; two 7.62mm Sniper rifles; one Cal .50 Sniper rifle; one Cal .30 Mauser Sniper rifle; four 12-gauge Shotguns; two Cal .30 M1 Garand rifles; one rocket-propelled grenade launcher tube; two 40mm N79 Grenade Launchers; one Cal 5.56mm M16 rifle; and assorted ammunition.
The firearms and ammunition are currently under the custody of the 1Mech Bn for safekeeping and proper disposition.
Lt. Gen. Roy Galido, Commander of Western Mindanao Command and concurrent Commanding General of the Philippine Army (CGPA), said government forces intensified the campaign against the proliferation of loose firearms to ensure an honest, orderly, and peaceful Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections coming this October.
“It is one of the security measures that we undertake to assure the public that they are free to exercise their right to suffrage,” Galido said. Vince Lopez