Sulu residents surrender 20 high-powered firearms, ammos

At least 20 high-powered firearms, assorted ammunition, and magazines were surrendered by the municipal officials and residents of Pata, Sulu to government forces Friday morning.

Brigadier General Cirilito Sobejana, Joint Task Force Sulu commander, thanked Pata, Sulu Mayor Anton Burahan, and other officials and residents for giving up their loose firearms.

He said the war materiel surrendered included four M16 rifles; one M653 baby Armalite rifle; 13 M1 garand rifles; one Sig 7.62mm rifle, and one caliber .30 Browning automatic rifle; 141 rounds of 5.56mm; 298 rounds of caliber .30; and 61 rounds of 7.62mm rounds ammunition and a number of assorted magazines

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

He said this was to ensure that terrorism, criminality, and clan wars (rido) would be lessened if not totally eradicated.

“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,” Sobejana said in a press statement. — MDM, GMA News