PAGADIAN CITY — Two individuals believed to be members of the Abu Sayyaf Group surrendered in Al-Barka, Basilan province while some  residents of the town turned over to soldiers 11 high-powered firearms.

Joint Task Force Basilan commander Brig. Gen. Domingo Gobway on Friday identified the two ASG members as alias Hasan and alias Dasti, both residents of Barangay Bato-Bato of Al-Barka.

He added that the 11 high-powered firearms were surrendered by the residents of the different barangays of Al-Barka to the 18th Infantry Battalion on Tuesday.

Among the loose firearms surrendered  to soldiers were one M1 Carbine, one M1 Garand, one Shotgun, two KG9 Sub-Machine Guns, one M79, and five M203 40mm Grenade Launchers. Meanwhile, the two former ASG members also handed over one M1 Garand rifle and one M16 rifle.

Gobway said that the campaign against the proliferation of loose firearms is continually progressing as more firearms were surrendered in the province through the efforts of the military troops and the municipal local government unit of Al-Barka headed by Mayor Jaydeefar Lajid.

He also stressed that the surrender of firearms was a result of the military’s relentless campaign against loose firearms in connection to the Small Arms and Light Weapons Program.

The firearms are currently stored in the 18IB supply room for safekeeping.

Since its launching, the Small Arms and Light Weapons Program yielded to the surrender of 381 assorted loose firearms and the stenciling of 4,323 others.

Armed Forces of the Philippines-Western Mindanao Command commander Lt. Gen. Roy Galido commended the troops of JTF-B for the accomplishment as he expressed his appreciation to the people of Basilan for their commendable action and genuine gesture of giving up their firearms