34 loose firearms surrendered in Basilan

From the Philippine News Agency (Mar 21, 2023): 34 loose firearms surrendered in Basilan (By Teofilo Garcia, Jr.)

LOOSE GUNS. Mayor Nursiya Ismael of Lantawan town, Basilan province, hands over 34 loose firearms to military authorities in a ceremony Monday (March 20, 2023), at the headquarters of the 19th Special Forces Company in Isabela City, the province's capital. Brig. Gen. Domingo Gobway, commander of Joint Task Force (JTF)-Basilan, said the firearms were surrendered by residents from different barangays of Lantawan town. (Photo courtesy of JTF-Basilan)

ZAMBOANGA CITY – Thirty-four firearms were surrendered by residents of Lantawan town, Basilan province as a result of the collaboration between the municipal government and military authorities in the campaign against unlicensed guns, officials reported on Tuesday.

Brig. Gen. Domingo Gobway, commander of Joint Task Force (JTF)-Basilan, said the surrendered firearms included two M16 rifles, a grenade launcher, four Garand rifles, a Carbine rifle, five shotguns, an Uzi submachine gun, and a KG9 machine pistol.

Also turned in were short firearms consisting of 14 .38-caliber pistols, two .45-caliber pistols, a .357-caliber pistol, and two .22-caliber pistols.

Lantawan Mayor Nursiya Ismael handed over the firearms to the military during a ceremonial turnover on Monday at the headquarters of the 19th Special Forces Company (SFC) in Isabela City, the province's capital.

Col. Frederick Sales, Gobway's deputy, said the firearms' surrender was a result of the military’s implementation of the Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW) program.

The firearms were deposited at the 19SFC headquarters for safekeeping.

JTF-Basilan reported that 370 loose firearms were surrendered since last year, while 4,323 were stenciled through the SALW program.

“We commit to continuing our efforts to free the communities from the cradle of violence and sustain peace in Basilan and its nearby provinces,” said Lt. Gen. Roy Galido, Western Mindanao Command chief, commending the JTF-Basilan and local officials for the achievement in the province.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1197867