Datu Blah town execs turn over unlicensed guns to Army

DATU BLAH SINSUAT, Maguindanao -- The local leaders of Datu Blah Sinsuat town of Maguindanao turned over Wednesday unlicensed firearms to military authorities.The turn over was held during the mass oath taking of the newly-elected Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) officials at the town’s municipal covered court.A total of 24 loose firearms were handed over to the military coming from the 13 barangays of the municipality as part of the Balik-Baril Program of the government.The event was graced by Maguindanao Governor Esmael Toto Mangudadatu, Joint Task Force Central Commander Brig. Gen. Cirilito E. Sobejana, 1stMarine Brigade Commander Brig. Gen. Melquiades V. Ordiales Jr.Datu Blah Sinsuat Mayor Raida Tomawis Sinsuat handed over the firearms through Governor Mangudadatu to Brig. Gen. Sobejana and Brig. Gen. Ordiales in ceremonial turn-over.Sobejana, in his remarks, thanked the local leaders of Datu Blah Sinsuat for helping in the government’s firearms reduction program for this will contribute in the safety of everybody during Martial Law in Mindanao.He said that there are bigger responsibilities for the newly elected barangay and SK officials with their constituents since monitoring of loose firearms is the responsibility of every barangay leader.