WESTMINCOM: Civilians surrender loose firearms in Central Mindanao

Posted to the Western Mindanao Command(WESTMINCOM) Facebook Page (Apr 15, 2023): Civilians surrender loose firearms in Central Mindanao

Camp Navarro, Calarian, Zamboanga City – April 16, 2023

Residents of Maguindanao del Norte and Sultan Kudarat surrendered their loose firearms to the military on Friday April 14, 2023.

Joint Task Force Central Commander, Maj. Gen. Alex Rillera, said that the residents from four barangays of Upi, Maguindanao del Norte and two barangays of Lebak, Sultan Kudarat turned over their loose firearms to Brig. Gen. Michael Santos, Commander of the 603rd Infantry Brigade at the 57IB Charlie Company headquarters in Purikay, Lebak town Friday morning.

 
Maj. Gen. Rillera attributed this accomplishment to the joint efforts of the 57th Infantry Battalion (57IB) under Lt. Col. Guillermo Mabute, Jr., and the local government units of the two municipalities.

 
Surrendered loose firearms include one Carbine rifle with magazine and ammunition, two cal. 45 pistols with magazine and ammunition, one cal. 45 pistol with magazine and ammunition, one cal. 38 revolver with ammunition, one 9mm pistol with magazine and ammunition, one M203 Grenade Launcher, two M79 Grenade Launchers, and four 12-gauge Shotguns.

 
The turnover of firearms was witnessed by Lebak Vice-Mayor Melchor Alarcon; Sangguniang Bayan member, Mr. Randy Orgo; Lebak PNP; and the barangay chairpersons of Upi and Lebak respectively.

 
According to Brig. Gen. Santos, the surrender of loose firearms from the residents of barangays Renede, Bungcog, Blensong, and Kinitaan, all of Upi, Maguindanao Del Norte was facilitated by the Alpha Company of the 57IB based in Kinitaan, Upi town while those from the residents of barangays Tran and Datu Karon, both of Lebak, was facilitated by the Charlie Company of the said army battalion.

 
Lt. Gen. Roy Galido, Commander of Western Mindanao Command, said that the military remain steadfast in implementing the campaign against the proliferation of loose firearms. “While we continue to intensify our campaign against terrorism, we also work hard to address other security concerns and clear the communities from the root causes of criminalities in our area of operation.”

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