Maguindanao del Sur: The Army’s 601st Infantry Brigade (601Bde) recovered assorted high-powered firearms on Sunday, abandoned in Barangay Mao, Datu Abdullah Sangki, Maguindanao del Sur. The discovery was made after soldiers responded swiftly to civilian reports regarding the presence of heavily armed individuals in the area.
According to Philippines News Agency, Lt. Col. Roden Orbon, spokesperson for the Army’s 6th Infantry Division (6ID), highlighted the significance of the information provided by civilians, which helped prevent potential violence in Datu Abdullah Sangki. The timely alert from the community played a crucial role in averting disruption, especially with the national and local polls scheduled for Monday.
Maj Gen. Donald Gumiran, commander of the 6ID, commended the civilians for their proactive approach in notifying authorities about the armed presence. He mentioned that when government forces, supported by armored personnel carriers, reached the site, the gunmen had already fled. However, soldiers discovered a cache of firearms and ammunition abandoned in the village around 8 a.m.
The recovered arsenal included one M60 machine gun, five M16 rifles, ammunition, and other war materiel. The 6ID has strategically deployed over 5,000 soldiers across its area of responsibility in Central Mindanao. This region encompasses the provinces of Maguindanao del Sur, Maguindanao del Norte, and parts of North Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, South Cotabato, and Sarangani.
