Sulu town declared gun-free

COTABATO CITY, Philippines — Local executives, Muslim religious leaders, Army and police officials together declared on Thursday, January 29, as “gun-free” the municipality of Omar in Sulu, a feat achieved via multi-sector cooperation in resolving clan wars and in driving Abu Sayyaf terrorists away from the municipality.

Officials of the Western Mindanao Command and Maj. Gen. Leonardo Peña, commander of the 11th Infantry Division covering Sulu province, separately said on Friday that the Sangguniang Bayan of Omar, led by its presiding officer, Vice Mayor Juddin Nur Pantasan, had earlier drafted a resolution declaring their municipality as gun-free and regulating the possession and carrying of firearms by residents not connected with either the police, or the military.

Thursday’s symbolic rite at the municipal center of Omar, one of the 19 towns in Sulu, was attended by officials of the Omar police force, representatives from the Sulu Provincial Police Office, the 1102nd Infantry Brigade, the 101st Infantry Battalion and leaders of different sectors in the municipality.

Peña and Brig. Gen. Alaric Avelino Delos Santos, commander of the 1102nd Infantry Brigade, separately told reporters that Omar Mayor Abdulbaki Ajibon, their vice mayor, Pantasan, and Sulu Gov. Abdusakur Tan, Jr. are cooperating on peace and security programs and disarmament efforts meant to boost Sulu's investment potentials.

The declaration of Omar as a gun-free municipality on Thursday was capped off with the presentation to guests who joined the event of firearms surrendered by residents early on.  

Photo: Officials presented to the public on Thursday the firearms surrendered villagers in Omar, Sulu as one of the highlights in declaring the municipality "gun-free," where only police and military personnel can roam around carrying firearms.