TWENTY MORE high-powered firearms and other weapons were surrendered Friday by local officials and residents to the Joint Task Force Sulu. ”This was a result of the relentless efforts of our forces in the campaign against loose firearms to pave the way for peace and progress in the province of Sulu,” Brigadier General E. Sobejana, JTF Sulu commander, said in a statement. On Feb. 2, Pata Island Mayor Anton Burahan and some barangay officials voluntarily surrendered a cache of weapons and ammunition following a combat operation against bandits launched by the Philippine Fleet-Marine Ready Force Sulu. That operation led to the discovery of an arms cache in Barangay Pisak Pisak on Pata Island. “As we sustain our momentum, we encourage all those who have a stake in the future of Sulu to take steps against terrorism and support our campaign to remove all tools and implements for violent extremism,” said Lt. Gen. Carlito G. Galvez, Jr., commander of the Western Mindanao Command. Mr. Galvez added, “We are intensifying our intelligence and combat operations to monitor and gather loose firearms… including that of soldiers and policemen.” — Albert F. Arcilla

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