The continuing campaign against the proliferation of loose firearms yielded more positive results as the local officials of Pagalungan and Sultan Sa Barongis, both of Maguindanao del Sur, handed over their unregistered firearms to the government forces on August 22, 2023.
The barangay chairpersons and municipal officials of Pagalungan voluntarily surrendered a total of 19 assorted high-powered loose firearms to Col. Neil Alfonso Roldan, Deputy Brigade Commander of 602nd Infantry Brigade; Police Col. Ruel Setimese, Director of the Police Provincial Office-Maguindanao del Sur; Maj. Rowel Caacbay, Executive Officer of the 90th Infantry Battalion; and Police Cpt. Norman Nur, Chief of Pagalungan Municipal Police Station, on Tuesday morning.
Handed over were two M14 rifles, one M16 rifle, one Cal .30 Barrett, seven rocket-propelled grenades, three Cal .50 Barrett, one 7.62 Barrett, one 12-gauge Shotgun, one M1 Garand rifle, one M79 Grenade Launcher, one 60mm mortar, and assorted ammunition.
According to Col. Roldan, the surrender of loose firearms is a result of the efforts of the Charlie Company, 90IB, in collaboration and coordination with the Pagalungan Municipal Mayor’s Office, the Municipal Council, and the Municipal Police Station of Pagalungan.
Surrendered loose firearms and ammunition were deposited at Pagalungan MPS and subjected to ballistic examination at the Crime Laboratory of Maguindanao del Sur Provincial Police Office for proper disposition.
Meanwhile, seven more loose firearms were turned over by the chairpersons of five of the 12 barangays of Sultan Sa Barongis (SSB), same province, on Tuesday afternoon. The turnover ceremony held at the municipal hall of SSB was presided over by Municipal Mayor Allandatu Angas, Sr. The firearms were formally received by Brig. Gen. Andre Santos, Commander of the 1st Mechanized Brigade with the presence of SSB Municipal Police Station Chief, Police Lt. Alfred Gregory.
Surrendered firearms include two Cal .30 M1 Garand rifles, one rocket-propelled grenade, one Cal .50 Barrett Sniper rifle, one 9mm KG9 Sub-Machine Gun, one 40mm M79 with two 40mm HE ammunition, and one M203 Grenade Launcher. Surrendered loose firearms and ammunition are currently under the custody of the 1Mech Bn for safekeeping and dispositive action.
Maj. Gen. Alex Rillera, Commander of Joint Task Force Central, said that these accomplishments are results of the Balik Baril Program to address the proliferation of loose firearms and to ensure an honest, orderly, and peaceful Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) 2023.
“We will continue to encourage the communities to surrender their loose firearms because we believe that disarming the people will greatly contribute to the peaceful conduct of the upcoming elections in October,” Lt. Gen. Roy Galido, Commander of Western Mindanao Command, said.
