Maguindanao residents yield 15 loose firearms to Army

From the Philippine News Agency (Apr 3): Maguindanao residents yield 15 loose firearms to Army

CAMP SIONGCO, Maguindanao – A 60-mm mortar launcher and 14 other loose firearms were surrendered by residents and local officials of Ampatuan in Maguindanao.

Major Gen. Arnel dela Vega, Army’s 6th Infantry Division commander, said the firearms were turned over by residents of Ampatuan, Maguindanao, led by Mayor Rasol Sangki, to Lt. Colonel Lauro Oliveros, commander of the First Mechanized Battalion, in ceremonies held at the town’s covered court last Saturday, March 31.

Oliveros said the surrendered firearms included one 60-mm mortar launcher, a light machine gun, a Barrett sniper rifle, a cal. 45 Uzi pistol, homemade shotguns and pistols, grenade launchers and cal. 38 revolver.

The 60-mm mortar launcher was the most powerful war material turned in by Ampatuan residents, followed by the cal. 50 Barret sniper rifle.

On March 26 and 27, residents of the towns of Mamasapano, Pagalungan, Datu Montawal and Shariff Aguak, surrendered 113 assorted rifles to the military through coordination with the local government units.

“These firearms were voluntarily surrendered by the residents who possessed unlicensed guns in response to the Army’s call for disarmament,” Dela Vega said, adding this is due to the prevailing martial law in Mindanao.

Dela Vega auded the residents’ response to the military’s campaign against loose firearms. Since January 1 to date, the Army’s 6th ID had collected 302 loose firearms in Maguindanao and the Army is expecting for more guns to be turned in by unauthorized gun owners.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1030505