SULTAN NAGA DIMAPORO, Lanao del Norte (PIA)--Officials from the local government and security sector here welcomed the hand-over of high-powered firearms by members of the newly-organized Ilian Banana Farmers Association.
"Tinuod nga mobati tag kalipay sa mga ingani nga mga sitwasyon nga makita nato nga getunol sa atong gobyerno ang mga wrongful nga mga butang sama aning mga armas," said town mayor Motalib Dimaporo during the handover ceremony held at the municipality's Sangguniang Bayan Hall, Monday, June 28.
[We are indeed happy in situations where we see that wrongful things like these weapons were handed over to the government.]
The firearms were voluntarily handed over by the association as an appreciation for the support they received from the government through the assistance of the 5th Mechanized Battalion.
Battalion commander Lt. Col. Julius Librada underlined the sincerity of the association members citing the hand-over as a demonstration of their willingness to pave the way forward for lasting peace and stability in the province.
"Yung pag hand-over nila hindi tanda ng pagsurrender, hindi tanda ng pagkatalo kundi tanda ng pagkasinsero ng bawat isa na makamit talaga ang kapayapaan dito sa Lanao del Norte," he said.
[Their hand-over is not a sign of surrender, not a sign of defeat but a sign of the sincerity of everyone to really achieve peace here in Lanao del Norte.]
An official of a people's organization in Sultan Naga Dimaporo hands over a high-powered firearm to Lt. Col. Julius Librada, commanding officer of the 5th Mechanized Battalion (5th Mech), and Sultan Naga Dimaporo mayor Motalib Dimaporo. (Claire R. Gigje/PIA-10/ICIC)
Municipal Police Chief PMaj. Moamar Solog called the hand-over a significant step to thwart untoward violent incidents in the area..
"Imagine if you have these in your position nga ingani kadako nga mga firearm. We cannot deny ilabina kung naay mga panghitabo within our family or neighbors nga dili layo sa possibility nga magamit nato ni siya nga butang. It will always result sa gitawag nato nga untoward incident," he said.
[Imagine if you have these in your position, these long firearms. We cannot deny, especially if there are events within our family or neighbors, the possibility that we can use this thing. It will always result in the so-called untoward incident.]
In his message read by Municipal Local Government Operations Officer Vivian Cañete, Department of Interior and Local Government Provincial Director Bruce Colao conveyed his appreciation to all the parties involved emphasizing its contribution to the efforts of the government to achieve lasting peace and inclusive development in Sultan Naga Dimaporo, the province of Lanao del Norte, and the country as a whole.
"Kami sa Department of the Interior and Local Government mapasalamaton kaayo sa atong mga igsoon nga boluntaryong nagtahan o nag surrender sa ilang mga armas ngadto sa atong Kagamhanan pinaagi sa atong kasundaluhan. Salamat usab sa Philippine Army ug sa atong mga local officials nga naningkamot para kini mapahigayon sa peaceful nga pamaagi," he said.
[We, at the Department of the Interior and Local Government, are very grateful to our brothers who have voluntarily surrendered their weapons to our Government through our Army. We are also thankful to the Philippine Army and our local officials who are working hard to make this happen in a peaceful manner.] (APB/PIA-10/ICIC/Lanao del Norte)
