AFP presents firearms seized in Sulu
ZAMBOANGA CITY – The military yesterday presented several firearms and ammunition surrendered by a municipal mayor and those that were recovered in Sulu recently.
The recovery of the firearms and ammunition was part of an effort to encourage local leaders and civilians to surrender illegally possessed war materials, Brig. Gen. Cirilito Sobejana, commander of the Joint Task Force Sulu, said.
Mayor Anton Burahan of Pata Island personally surrendered 12 rifles, mortar tubes, a grenade launcher and ammunition.
Sobejana said the surrender of the firearms came three days after the Marine Ready Force in Sulu recovered a large cache of war materials, rockets and ammunition based on information provided by a member of the Abu Sayyaf bandit group who surrendered to the military.
He said among those recovered in Barangay Pisakpisak on Wednesday were a machine gun, three baseplates for an 81mm mortar as well as its bipod and tripod, and ammunition.
Sobejana expressed belief that stocks of war materials remain in the hands of some individuals, citing the recovery of the base-plates and ammunition for mortars.
The firearms and ammunition will be destroyed to prevent them from ending up in the hands of the enemies of the state, according to Lt. Gen. Carlito Galvez Jr., chief of the Western Mindanao command.
Galvez said President Duterte ordered these firearms destroyed.
“We will gather all the recovered firearms and disposed of them as provided under the protocol of demilitarizing war equipment and firearms,” he said.
Galvez was hopeful that more local officials and groups in Sulu would come out and turn over loose firearms.