Security troops confiscate high-powered guns in Sulu

(High Powered Firearms)

Pursuing government security forces have seized several high-powered firearms while operating along the outskirts of Sulu province on Wednesday, a military official said yesterday.

Col. Allan Arrojado, commander of the military’s Joint Task Force Sulu, said that elements of the Army’s 35th Infantry Battalion (IB) and Sulu police were conducting mobile patrol along Barangay Mangis in Indanan town at around 5 p.m. when they initially discovered three firearms.

Recovered were an M4 rifle with attached M203, a .9mm pistol and a caliber .45 pistol.

Arrojado said that the operating troops pursued the operations that yielded more firearms, including some high-powered guns.

Seized were four M16 rifles, an AK47 rifle, an M4 rifle, a BAR rifle, three M14 rifles, assorted magazines, assorted ammunition and several bandoleers.

Arrojado did not mention where did the firearms come from. However, Indanan is a known operating area of the terrorist Abu Sayyaf Group.

Government security forces are currently conducting all-out law enforcement operation in Sulu against the ASG.

The all-out operation was launched last month following the release of German hostages Viktor Stefan Okonek and Herike Diesen.

The Abu Sayyaf group is still holding several hostages, including Dutchman Ewold Horn, who was among the two birdwatchers abducted by the ASG is Tawi-Tawi in February 2012.

Horn’s companion, Swiss Lorenzo Vinciguerra, managed to escape from their captors last week after fighting it out with his guard.

Source:http://www.tribune.net.ph/nation/security-troops-confiscate-high-powered-guns-in-sulu