ZAMBOANGA CITY — The Joint Task Force Central received a huge lift in its campaign against insurgency and lawlessness following the arrival of eight new self-propelled 155mm Autonomous Truck Mounted Howitzer Systems or ATMOS 2000.

JTF-Central commander Maj. Gen. Roy Galido disclosed that the new weapons — which arrived on Thursday morning at Makar Port in General Santos City — are now stationed in the 7th Field Artillery (Steel Rain) Battalion at Camp Lucero, Barangay Nasapian in Carmen town, North Cotabato.

Col. Francis Anthony M. Coronel, commander of the Army Artillery Regiment; Lt. Col. Raquel Vilchez, commander of the 7FAB; Lt. Col. Chamberlain Esmino, commander of 10th FAB and Brig. Gen. Jovencio Gonzales, 602nd Infantry (Liberator) Brigade commander presented the newest and biggest Philippine Army arsenals to Galido.

"Because of these new assets, we will further strengthen our ability to suppress terrorism and insurgency here in Central and South-Central Mindanao, and able to defeat the state's enemies to prevent them from sowing violence," Galido said.

"These enemies of the state would not be able to escape with these new assets and continued to call on the extremist groups to return to the folds of the law and put an end to sowing violence so that peace can have a chance to win out," he added.

It was learned that eight out of 12 of the military's so-called "game changer" assets have been allocated to JTF-Central to fight insurgence in Central Mindanao.

It also aims to modernize the Philippine Army to be more effective in protecting the people and securing the state.