Maguindanao residents surrender loose firearms
Local News • 14:16 PM Tue Feb 20, 2018
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By:
Edwin O. Fernandez/6ID DPAO PR
CAMP SIONGCO, Maguindanao - The military’s campaign against loose firearms has earned the
support of local officials, even local residents of Maguindanao, an Army
official said.
Major Gen.
Arnel dela Vega, commander of the 6th Infantry Division and Task
Force Central, said the intensified campaign continues and being intensified
with the local residents expressing support on it, publicly and voluntarily.
On Monday, at
least nine high powered firearms with magazines and ammunition, were
surrendered by the local residents and a private armed group member in
Maguindanao to 2nd Mechanized Infantry Battalion stationed in Datu Salibo,
Maguindanao.
The battalion
is under the 601st Infantry Brigade.
Quiapo
Dalandas, chairperson of Barangay Damabalas, Datu Piang, Maguindanao voluntarily
turned over one locally made caliber 50 sniper rifle and two US caliber M1
Garand rifles modified into caliber 7.62 M-14 rifles while Edris Sindatok,
chairperson of Barangay Madia, Datu Saudi Ampatuan, also in Maguindanao, handed
over one US caliber-30 M1 Garand rifle modified into 7.62 M14 rifle and one US
5.56 Colt M16 rifle.
Mantila L.
Tambak of Task Force Itihad (Unity) of Barangay Ambadao, Datu Piang,
Maguindanao also turned over one US caliber 30 M1 Garand rifle and one US
caliber 5.56 Elisco M16 rifle.
Meanwhile, a
certain Abe Andal, a member of private armed group, surrendered one US caliber
5.56 Elisco M-16 rifle with attached locally made M203.
Brig. Gen. Diosdado
C. Carreon, 601st brigade commander, appreciated the gesture of some
people of Maguindanao under his area of jurisdiction.
I appreciate
your commendable action and genuine gesture in giving up firearms, Carreon
told residents. Carreon also encouraged other people of Maguindanao who are
illegally bearing firearms to voluntarily surrender.
Gun-possession and
ownership, both legal and illegal, is a status symbol among Moro communities,
mostly for self-defense and protection of properties against lawless elements. Image may contain 8 people people smiling indoor sand//scontent.fcgy1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/28276826_765645300308616_4745502473517099094_n.jpg?oh=410391bf1415048a5262afe3a00288e7andampoe=5B06982E