NINE barangay officials from Talitay, Maguindanao del Norte on Tuesday turned over loose firearms to the Army’s 2nd Mechanized Battalion (Makasag).
According to Lt. Col. Jerome D. Peñalosa, head of the unit, the gesture by the local village officials supports the government’s campaign against loose firearms under the Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW) Management Program.
Talitay Mayor Hon. Sidik Amiril said their initiative was a response to the government’s and the military’s call to surrender loose firearms to prevent their use in crimes, especially during elections.
The surrendered firearms consisted of two 7.62mm sniper rifles, two 12-gauge shotguns, a .30 caliber Garand rifle, an M79 grenade launcher, an M203 grenade launcher, an RPG launcher, and a 5.56mm Ultimax rifle.
The guns were presented by Peñalosa to Col. Ricky Bunayog, deputy commander of the 601st Brigade.
