‘PAGLALANSAG’. At least nine high-powered firearms were turned over by the local government of Ampatuan, Maguindanao to police authorities in the province on Tuesday (Aug. 10, 2021). Maj. Gen. Albert Ferro (with microphone), PNP-CIDG chief, personally accepted the surrendered firearms from the local officials. (Photo courtesy of CIDG-Maguindanao)
COTABATO CITY – In support of the government’s campaign against loose firearms, local officials of Ampatuan, Maguindanao voluntarily surrendered nine assorted high-powered guns to police authorities in the province.
Mayor Bai Leah Sangki turned over on Tuesday afternoon the firearms collected from unauthorized gun holders in their area specifically to Maj. Gen. Albert Ferro, chief of the Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG).
Sangki handed over to Ferro nine assorted firearms -- two M16 rifles, three Garand rifles, two sniper rifles, a grenade launcher gun, and a machine pistol -- during a ceremony held at the Ampatuan town hall.
“We want peace and this act of some of our people will hopefully bring us peace,” Sangki said, adding that she did not have difficulty convincing people in possession of unlicensed guns to turn them over to the government.
The mayor said she will continue the campaign against loose guns to ensure that these will not be used by illegitimate gun holders in the future.
“We would like to show to the world that Maguindanaons are peace-loving people and the surrender of these rifles are testaments of our desire for peace,” she said.
Ferro, meanwhile, lauded the initiatives of Sangki in support of the police's Oplan Paglalansag program.
“We assure residents of Ampatuan town and the rest of the province that the CIDG will continue supporting initiatives that will help bring peace in this area,” he said.
Ferro also assured the continuous police campaign against the dismantling of private armed groups and other lawless groupings in the province.
“We are counting on the support of the local chief executives as well as the communities in this task,” he said. (PNA)
