FIREARMS TURNOVER. Military and local officials in Datu Saudi Ampatuan, Maguindanao inspect the firearms to be turned over to government forces during the town's peace and order council meeting on Wednesday (Dec. 11, 2019). The town officials, led by Mayor Edris Sindatok, committed to support the government’s disarmament campaign even after the reported lifting of martial law in Mindanao by yearend. (Photo courtesy of 6ID)
DATU SAUDI AMPATUAN, Maguindanao -- With or without martial law, local officials of this town vowed to support the government’s disarmament campaign by turning over high-powered firearms.
Datu Saudi Ampatuan Mayor Edris Sindatok led other local officials in turning over high-powered firearms collected by village officials from unauthorized gun holders.
“This is our commitment because we believe we are the beneficiary of whatever good results this disarmament campaign will bring,” Sindatok told military officials in the vernacular during a ceremony held after the Municipal Peace and Order Council (MPOC) meeting here on Wednesday afternoon.
Lt. Col. Edwin Alburo of the 57th Infantry Battalion and Capt. Dominador Tagorda of the 14th Mechanized Company of the 1st Mechanized Battalion received the firearms, which included a .50-caliber machinegun.
Maj. Gen. Diosdado Carreon, commander of the Army’s 6th Infantry Division (6ID) and Joint Task Force Central (JFTC), lauded the support provided by the village officials in collecting the unlicensed firearms.
Head of the Western Mindanao Command, Lt. Gen. Cirilito Sobejana, welcomed the commitment of Sindatok and other local officials in supporting the disarmament campaign.
The drive against loose firearms in Maguindanao began when Sobejana was still the 6ID and JTFC chief in 2017. At least 4,000 assorted firearms were collected by various units of JTFC since the campaign started in January 2017.
Some of the guns were voluntarily surrendered through the help of local government officials and those seized during military operations in Maguindanao, North Cotabato, and Sultan Kudarat.
Only recently, Malacañang announced that President Rodrigo Duterte may no longer recommend the extension of martial law in Mindanao, which ends on December 31.
https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1088566
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