Key Philippine Military and Insurgency-Related Events: WESTMINCOM: Military continues campaign against loose firearms in Tawi-Tawi

Monday, October 2, 2023

WESTMINCOM: Military continues campaign against loose firearms in Tawi-Tawi

Posted to the Western Mindanao Command (WESTMINCOM) Facebook Page (Oct 2, 2023): Military continues campaign against loose firearms in Tawi-Tawi

Camp Navarro, Calarian, Zamboanga City – October 2, 2023

The military’s intensified campaign against the proliferation of loose firearms continuously bears positive results as three more civilians handed over their loose firearms on September 29, 2023.

Brig. Gen. Romeo Racadio, Commander of the 2nd Marine Brigade, said that the personnel from the 212th Marine Company under the Marine Battalion Landing Team 12 successfully facilitated the voluntary surrender of loose firearms and ammunition at 212MC headquarters in Barangay Poblacion, Sitangkai, Tawi-Tawi on Friday morning. Surrendered firearms include two M1 Garand rifles, one Cal .45 pistol with magazine, one KG9, and 16 rounds of live ammunition for M1 Garand rifle. The owners of the loose firearms are all residents of Sitio Ponduhan Pangutaran, Barangay South Larap, same town.

“This accomplishment exemplifies the effectiveness of our conduct dialogues and security forums to convince the local populace to surrender their loose firearms, adhere to the government’s Election Gun Ban, and support the Small Arms and Light Weapons program,” Brig. Gen. Racadio added.

The surrendered firearms and ammunition were temporarily kept at H212MC while waiting for the formal turnover to the higher headquarters.

Western Mindanao Command Chief, Maj. Gen. Steve Crespillo said the military’s mission is to keep the communities safe and secure. “Firearms are the root causes of violence; hence, we are working doubly to curb the proliferation of loose firearms. Rest assured that we will continue to bolster our efforts to eradicate these tools of violence and maintain peace and order in the communities in our area of operation.”

“We also strengthen the implementation of the campaign to ensure the peaceful and orderly conduct of the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections come October 30,” Maj. Gen. Crespillo added.