By Edwin Fernandez
CAMP SIONGCO, Maguindanao del Norte – The military’s campaign against loose firearms continues to gain momentum in Maguindanao del Sur as local officials and civilians in Datu Paglas town surrendered a dozen high-powered firearms on Monday afternoon, according to officials.
Brig. Gen. Omar V. Orozco, commander of the Army’s 1st Mechanized Brigade(1MBde), said the surrender was a result of an intensified and relentless government campaign against loose firearms in the province.
“The firearms, voluntarily surrendered by village officials and residents, include M-14 and M-16 rifles, as well as Garand and Carbine rifles,” Orozco said in a report on Tuesday.
The surrender ceremony took place at the headquarters of the 2nd Mechanized Infantry Battalion in the adjacent town of President Quirino, Sultan Kudarat province.
Paglas Municipal Mayor Ibrahim Paglas IV, along with other local officials, witnessed the presentation of firearms to Orozco and other military officials.
Orozco attributed it to the government’s “whole-of-nation approach” to stop loose firearms and restrict gun ownership to the police and military.
Maj. Gen. Jose Vladimir Cagara, commander of the Army’s 6th Infantry Division, lauded the local officials of Paglas and the 1MBde for pursuing the campaign against unlicensed guns.
“The surrender of guns shows the public’s confidence in the military and the government. This ensures peaceful communities where the people are productive and law-abiding citizens,” he said in a statement Tuesday.
Since January, over 300 assorted guns and explosives have been surrendered to the military or seized during operations in the 6ID area of responsibility.
The 6ID covers the provinces of Maguindanao del Sur, Maguindanao del Norte, and parts of North Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, South Cotabato, and Sarangani. (PNA)
