LOOSE FIREARMS. The campaign against unlicensed firearms nets another seven in Tawi-Tawi on Monday (Aug. 9, 2021). Since January, Joint Task Force Tawi-Tawi has collected 56 unlicensed arms. (Photo courtesy of Westmincom-PIO)
ZAMBOANGA CITY – The number of loose firearms surrendered in Tawi-Tawi for the first eight months this year climbed to 56 after another seven were turned over to authorities.
Lt. Gen. Corleto Vinluan Jr., commander of the Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom), said in a statement on Tuesday that the successful peace efforts of the provincial government and the Joint Task Force (JTF)-Tawi-Tawi convinced more civilians to surrender their unlicensed firearms to authorities.
He said seven more were handed over on Monday by Panglima Sugala Mayor Nurbert Sahali to Col. Romeo Racadio, JTF-Tawi-Tawi commander -- two M16A1 rifles, three caliber .45 pistols, a Garand rifle, and a Colt Ar15/K69 rifle with scope.
The firearms were surrendered by residents of Barangay Tongbangkaw, said Racadio, who also lauded the efforts of the Marine Battalion Landing Team-12 led by Lt. Col. Charlie Caña, the police, and local government officials.
“Together with the barangay officials, we continue to conduct security forums in the communities to convince the holders to surrender their undocumented or unlicensed firearms to avoid penalty,” Caña said.
Of the 56 firearms, 35 were considered high-powered.
As a token of gratitude, Panglima Sugala distributed cartons of food supplies from the Ministry of Social Services and Development - Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao and PHP1,000 each to the residents who gave up their undocumented firearms. (PNA)
