Lanao Norte, Iligan officials turn over loose guns

ILIGAN CITY--A TOTAL of 535 assorted loose firearms from the 18 municipalities of Lanao del Norte and this city were presented to Brig. Gen. Felicisimo Budiongan, the assistant division commander of the Army's Mechanized Infantry Division, on Wednesday here.

Collected in the past 27 days as part of the government's crackdown against unlicensed guns, the firearms were turned over by local officials led by Lanao del Norte Gov. Imelda Dimaporo.

“It is our task to stop the proliferation of loose firearms based on existing laws, more so with the Presidential Proclamation 216 declaring the state of Martial Law and suspension of the Writ of Habeas Corpus in the whole of Mindanao,” said Col. Robert C. Dauz, commander of the Army's 2nd Mechanized Infantry Brigade.

For her part, Gov. Dimaporo also expressed gratitude towards the province's 18 town mayors for their cooperation following her appeal for them to lead in the surrender of their own unlicensed guns.

“What happened in Marawi will not be allowed to happen in Lanao del Norte. Let’s set aside politics and let’s work hand in hand to protect the province,” Dimaporo said.

Gen. Murillo also called on local officials to keep on pressing their respective constituents to give up their loose firearms "to save more lives." (Irma Boza/PNA)