Sulu mayor, local execs yield guns to military

Photo courtesy of Marine Battalion Landing Team-1

Pata Mayor Anton Burahan of Sulu and other local officials turned over their unregistered firearms to the military on Friday in a bid to support the campaign against loose firearms in the island province.

“The surrender is brought about by the relentless campaign of the Joint Task Force Sulu (JTF) against illegally possessed firearms,” JTF Sulu commander Brig. Gen. Cirilito Sobejana said in a statement.

Burahan and other officials turned over the following weapons, firearms, magazines and ammunition:

3 – 81MM mortar tubes

1 – 90 RR (crew-served weapon)

1 – Cal .50 barrel

4 – M16 rifles

3 – M14 rifles

5 – garand rifles

1 – M79 grenade launcher

149 rds 5.56mm, 176 rds cal 30, 107 rds 7.62-mm ammo, & 1 rd – 40-mm ammo

6 pcs – M16

6 pcs – M14

27 clips – garand

“The genuine gesture of Mayor Burahan and his constituents in giving up voluntarily their war materiel, can be a good example to all other government officials and the Tausug as a whole who are bearing arms illegally,” Sobejana said.

The island commander said they were aiming for Sulu to become a “gun-free province.”

“With the support and cooperation of all stakeholders, we can see the light at the end of the tunnel here in Lupah Sug,” Sobejana said.