A total of 271 assorted unlicensed guns, surrendered by civilians to military and local officials in Maguindanao del Sur, were destroyed on Thursday to prevent them from being used in lawless activities.
The weapons were collected by various Army units and were presented to Maguindanao del Sur Gov. Ali Midtimbang and Maj. Gen. Vladimir Cagara, commander of the Army’s 6th Infantry Division, in the provincial capitol in Buluan town.
Brig. Gen. Edgar Catu, commander of the Army’s 601st Infantry Brigade, said the weapons include cal. 50 machine guns, a 90 recoilless rifle (90RR), and a 60mm mortar tube and firearms of various calibers.
A ceremonial destruction of the weapons followed the presentation. Later, authorities distributed livelihood assistance for those who turned in their unlicensed guns.
Catu said the firearms were collected by Army battalions under the 601st brigade and First Mechanized Infantry Brigade from unauthorized gun holders in 15 towns of Maguindanao del Sur through a series of dialogues.
Present to witness the program were Maguindanao del Sur Rep. Esmael Mangudadatu and Ferdinand Buscato of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (Opapru).
‘This is part of our normalization efforts,’ Midtimbang said. ‘I urged our local officials to continue helping the military in the collection of loose firearms so that peace will reign in Maguindanao del Sur.’
Cagara lauded the officials of the 601st and First Mechanized Brigade for continually collecting unlicensed guns from the hands of unauthorized individuals.