More illegal firearms surrendered in Maguindanao

MAGUINDANAO, Philippines — Two local government units here turned over to authorities on Saturday 34 unlicensed firearms in compliance with Malacañang’s nationwide firearm reduction campaign.

Local officials in the towns of Datu Piang and Datu Abdullah Sangki surrendered assault rifles, shotguns and 40 millimeter grenade launchers to the Army’s 2nd Mechanize Infantry Battalion and the provincial police in separate ceremonies witnessed by officers of the 6th Infantry Division (ID).

Captain Arvin Encinas, public affairs officer of the 6th ID, said yesterday that the 601st and 1st Mechanize Brigades in the second district of Maguindanao have collected 322 unlicensed firearms from local officials since January.

Datu Piang and Datu Abdullah Sangki are both located in the second district of the province.

Among the first to turn over firearms in the past three months were barangay officials in towns where large agricultural plantations employing Muslim workers are located.

Maj.Gen. Arnel de la Vega, chief of the 6th ID, thanked the heads of different municipal peace and order councils in the province for helping push the government’s loose firearm collection campaign.

The Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao police and the 6th ID have been asking local government units to urged their constituents to yield their unlicensed firearms.