Seventeen more loose firearms were surrendered to military forces in Pikit, North Cotabato, as local officials and residents continue to support the campaign against unlicensed guns.
Col. Ricky Bunayog, commander of the Army’s 602nd Infantry Brigade, commended the move, stating, “Your decision to surrender your loose firearms is an indication you prefer peace to violence in your communities.”
On Tuesday afternoon, Lt. Col. Erwin Jay Dumanghan, commander of the 40th Infantry Battalion (40IB), presented the firearms to Bunayog during a turnover ceremony at the 40IB headquarters in Pikit.
The surrendered weapons included five M14 rifles, a 7.62mm M14 rifle, an Ultimax rifle, two .45-caliber pistols, two M16 rifles, three Garand rifles, a Carbine rifle, three rocket-propelled grenade launchers, a 9mm UZI pistol, and assorted ammunition.
Dumanghan said some of the firearms came from the towns of Tugunan and Kapalawan in the Special Geographic Area of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) and Matalam, North Cotabato.
Maj. Gen. Donald Gumiran, commander of the 6th Infantry Division, praised local officials and residents for their cooperation.
“A correct decision, hopefully more local officials and civilians will follow suit,” he said in a statement Wednesday.
Since Jan. 1, over 600 firearms have been collected or recovered in Central Mindanao as part of the military’s campaign against loose firearms. (PNA)
