Kalinaw News: For Lasting Peace | SALW memorandum signed, 23 assorted firearms surrendered

Posted to Kalinaw News (May 22, 2021): For Lasting Peace | SALW memorandum signed, 23 assorted firearms surrendered



HADJI MUHAMMAD AJUL, Basilan — A total of twenty-three firearms surrendered. Twenty high-powered long firearms and three pistols were received by Brigadier General Domingo B Gobway, the Commander of Joint Task Force Basilan – 101st Brigade from the different Barangays of Municipality of Hadji Muhammad Ajul as part of the signing of Memorandum of Understanding on Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW) Program at Barangay Buton on Friday, 21 May 2021.

The Small Arms and Light Weapons Program is a component of the normalization process under the Comprehensive Agreement of Bangsamoro which aims to reduce the significant number of illicit firearms and to restrict its movement within the locality.

Governor Jim Hataman-Salliman strongly supports the SALW program which is seen to greatly improve the peace and development of Basilan. Constituents who surrendered their loose firearms will receive livelihood support and financial assistance from the government as provided in the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). Brigadier General Gobway expressed his heartfelt gratitude to the cooperation of the Local Government Unit headed by Mayor Ibrahim Ballaho and all the Barangay Leaders. According to him, this collaboration of the LGU, police and the military on SALW will hasten the normalization process.

“I am very much thankful to Hon. Ibrahim Ballaho who took bold steps to be the first Mayor to implement the SALW program,” Brigadier General Gobway said.

Lieutenant Colonel Alex D Ampati, the Commanding Officer of the 4th Special Forces Battalion, is grateful to the efforts and hard work of the 15th Special Forces Company headed by the Captain Sherwin D Latiera.

Captain Sherwin Latiera ensures that his unit will support the program on SALW in order to attain a long-lasting peace in Hadji Muhammad Ajul Muncipality.

“Ang kasundaluhan ninyo ay inyung kaibigan, at katuwang sa kapayapaan. Kaya Tayo po ay magtulungan sa ganitong programa ng pamahalaan,” Captain Latiera said.

Also present in the activity were Police Colonel Rodrigo O Maramo, the Provincial Director of PNP Basilan, different local government agency heads, and other stakeholders.



[Kalinaw News is the official online source of information on the pursuit for peace in the Philippines This website is a property of the Civil-Military Operations Regiment, Philippine Army located at Lawton Avenue, Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City. Contact us: kalinawnews@cmoregiment.com]

https://www.kalinawnews.com/for-lasting-peace-salw-memorandum-signed-23-assorted-firearms-surrendered/