The Armed Forces of the Philippines-Western Mindanao Command on Tuesday revealed that at least 31 assorted firearms and two hand grenades were voluntarily surrendered and turned over to the state security forces by local officials of Aleosan town in Cotabato Province and two barangays of the Special Geographic Area of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.
WesMinCom chief Maj. Gen. Steve Crespillo said that the campaign against the proliferation of loose firearms resulted in the voluntary surrender of the firearms on Monday.
Among the firearms surrendered were one rocket-propelled grenade launcher, one Barret Cal .50 rifle, one Browning Automatic Rifle, three Cal .30 rifles, one 5.56mm rifle, two 40mm M79 launchers, twelve 12-gauge shotguns, one KG9 Cal .45 rifle, two Cal 5.56 pistols, one Cal .45 pistol, two Cal .38 pistol, one Cal .38 revolver, one Cal .22 rifle, one 12-gauge pistol and one 20-gauge pistol.
Also handed over were two hand grenades and assorted magazines.
Aleosan Mayor Eduardo Cabaya presented the loose firearms to the 602nd Infantry Brigade, 34th Infantry Battalion and Aleosan Municipal Police Station in the town.
According to Crespillo, the barangay officials who handed over the loose firearms to the military also signed a pledge of commitment for peaceful and orderly Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections slated on 30 October 2023.
“We will sustain this campaign and work as a team in cooperation with other local government units to achieve our common goal,” Crespillo said.
Over at Lanao del Sur, an individual believed to be a ranking New People’s Army leader and his close aid surrendered to the 5th Infantry Battalion in Barangay Pilintangan, Wao town in Lanao del Sur on Sunday.
Crespillo said a certain Kiram, the current acting secretary of Sub-Regional Committee 5 and Commanding Officer of Sub-Regional Operations Command of the North Central Mindanao Regional Committee and a certain Ram, a member of Platoon Mercedes, voluntarily surrendered to Lt. Col. Eduard Sia-ed, commanding officer of the 5th IB in Barangay Pilintangan, Wao, Lanao del Sur.
The two former NPAs also turned over were one M653 rifle, one M4A1 Carbine, 203 rounds of ammunition, eight magazines, and one bandolier.
Kiram and Ram revealed that they decided to surrender due to the extreme hardship they experienced while evading government forces who were hunting them in the forested areas of Barangay Pilintangan.
Crespillo said the surrender of Kiram and Ram was a result of the concerted efforts of the 103rd Brigade under Brig. Gen. Yegor Rey Barroquillo Jr. and the 403rd Infantry Brigade.