Tawi-Tawi town execs facilitate surrender of loose firearms

From the Philippine News Agency (Aug 3, 2021): Tawi-Tawi town execs facilitate surrender of loose firearms (By Teofilo Garcia, Jr.)

LOOSE FIREARMS. Photo shows the guns and ammunition they turned over to the troops of the Marine Battalion Landing Team-6 by officials of Sapa-Sapa town in Tawi-Tawi on Monday (Aug. 2, 2021). Since January, a total of 49 loose firearms were surrendered to the JTF Tawi-Tawi. (Photo courtesy of Joint Task Force Tawi-Tawi)

The government’s campaign against the proliferation of loose firearms continues to gain headway as another four high-powered firearms were surrendered to the military in Tawi-Tawi, officials announced Tuesday.

Lt. Gen. Corleto Vinluan Jr., commander of the Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom), said the firearms surrendered include an M-16 Armalite rifle, two US-made .30 caliber M1 Garand rifles, and one Carbine rifle as well as several rounds of ammunition.

Vinluan said the four firearms were handed over Monday to the Joint Task Force (JTF) Tawi-Tawi by the town officials of Sapa-Sapa after the guns were surrendered to them by civilian residents.

Lt. Col. Benjie Pendon, Marine Battalion Landing Team-6 (MBLT-6) commander, said the firearms were surrendered by Abduljim Kusasi, Altriki Yusoph, Renaldo Mabini, and Ronald Shalim, barangay chairperson of Lookan, Sapa-Sapa.

Pendon said the surrender of the loose firearms is a result of the series of dialogues conducted by his command in coordination with the local officials as well as their information campaign in connection with the campaign against the proliferation of unlicensed guns under Republic Act 10591.

Col. Romeo Racadio, JTF Tawi-Tawi commander, said that all units under his command remain steadfast in the continuing campaign against loose firearms.

“Our main objective is to get rid of loose firearms which are the main causes of violence in the communities,” Racadio said.

Since January, a total of 49 loose firearms were surrendered to the JTF Tawi-Tawi which included 31 high-powered and 18 smaller firearms.

“This exemplifies the good interagency collaboration and cooperation that we have established with the local government units and stakeholders as we continue to work towards the achievement of peace and development in the communities,” Vinluan said.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1149204