Gov’t troops recover more high-powered firearms in Sulu residents, officials

February 9, 2018

Government troops recovered more high-powered firearms as residents and government officials in Sulu continue to surrender their weapons.

Brig. Gen. Cirilito Sobejana, Joint Task Force Sulu commander, said as the result of their campaign against loose firearms, the municipal officials and residents of Pata in Sulu surrendered 20 additional high-powered firearms, assorted ammunition and magazines  around 10am Friday.

“The war materiel surrendered include: four 4 M16 rifles; one 1 M653 baby armalite rifle; 13 M1 Garand rifles; one Sig 7.62mm rifle and, one  caliber .30 Browning Automatic Rifle (BAR); 141 rounds of 5.56mm; 298 rounds of caliber .30; and, 61 rounds of 7.62mm rounds ammunition and a number of assorted magazines,” he said.

Sobejana said “more loose firearms are expected to be surrendered as JTF Sulu continue its effort to make Sulu a gunless province.”

“This is to ensure that terrorism, criminality and clan wars (rido) will be lessened if not totally eradicated,” he said.

Sobejana also recognized local government officials who have their initiatives to surrender their firearms to the government forces.

“I am pleased by the action of Mayor Anton Burahan and other officials and residents of Pata, Sulu of voluntarily surrendering their loose firearms,” he said.

“The commendable action of a local chief executive and responsible citizens of Pata may serve as example for other government officials and residents here in the province of Sulu and the whole of Mindanao so that the road to peace is realized,” he added. Robina Asido/DMS