JOLO, Sulu – Defense Secretary Norberto Gonzales met with officials and local candidates in this province and discussed a “behavioral agreement” on the handling of firearms.

This developed after Gonzales met with the fiercest political opponents in the province – Sulu Gov. Abdusakur Tan and Sulu Rep. Munir Arbison, both eyeing the gubernatorial post in the coming May polls.

Gonzales discussed with them and other local officials about a “behavioral agreement” on how to handle arms.

However, Gonzales admitted “disarming groups in the province is no easy task.”

Saying that with the Tausug, “you can’t simply seize their guns, it is part of their culture.”

“Tausugs are very responsible in handling weapons,” Gonzales said.

But Gonzales emphasized that he would discuss with officials pertinent measures on how to make Sulu towns “gun-free.”

“I’m not going to start collection drive of firearms in Sulu but I would like to see if we can make Jolo town gun free,” Gonzales said.

Gonzales explained that “gun free” is “you don’t see firearms” in public. “They may have guns at home but they don’t carry them in public places.”

“What I’m asking for is this—in certain areas in Sulu, we will declare gun-free. Only soldiers and police are authorized to walk around with firearms. All the rest, there would be none,” he said.

One of the measures, Gonzales said, is the accounting of all legal firearms of politicians and their supporters and for them to be accountable for their armed men.

During the separate talks with Tan and Arbson, Gonzales stressed the need to change the image of Sulu so it can move towards progress. “Very special sa akin ang Sulu kaya hindi puwedeng hindi natin ito ayusin,” said Gonzales.

In response, the two politicians welcomed the defense chief’s proposal for them and their supporters to register their armed followers, along with their respective arms, and be responsible for these armed men.

The defense chief also asked members of the two camps not to bring arms outside their homes or to leave their arms at checkpoints.

Gonzales told the two Muslim leaders that their arms need not be confiscated because he assured President Arroyo that the Tausugs were responsible keepers of guns.