ZAMBOANGA CITY — Soldiers of Joint Task Force (JTF)-Central have recovered 11 high-powered firearms left abandoned by gunmen of Zainodin Kiaro’s group at the border of two villages in Mamasapano town in Maguindanao del Sur.

33rd Infantry Batallion (IB) Commanding Officer Lt. Col. Udgie C. Villan said yesterday his soldiers recovered the firearms at the boundary of Barangay Pimbalakan and Tukanalipao in Mamasapano on Saturday.

According to Villan, they were holding a meeting at the Barangay Gymnasium of Tukanalipao in Mamasapano when they received information from a civilian that the gunmen of Zainodin Kiaro’s group left their firearms at the boundary of Barangay Pimbalakan and Tukanalipao.

“We immediately took action after we were given the information regarding the location of the weapons left by Zainodin Kiaro’s group to evade the government troops conducting the Joint Law Enforcement Operation,” Villan said.

Among the firearms the soldiers of the 33rd IB recovered were three Cal. 30 Sniper Rifles; two Grenade Launchers; two M16A1 Rifles; one Cal. 50 Sniper Rifle; a Cal. 30 Garand Rifle; one M14 Rifle and one Cal. 30 Carbine M1.

Records of the JTF-Central listed a total of 73 loose firearms have been confiscated from the Joint Army-PNP Law Enforcement Operation since last week.

This effort by the government is aimed at ensuring an orderly and peaceful conduct of the National and Midterm Election next year, Millan said.

Newly installed AFP-Western Mindanao Command Chief Maj. Gen. Antonio G. Navarrete said that the military and PNP will continue to conduct operations against the proliferation of illegal and loose firearms in Central.

“Your soldiers of the 6th Infantry Division and JTF-Central will remain committed to engaging with all stakeholders to achieve lasting peace and stability in the region,” Nafarrete said.