CAMP SIONGCO, Maguindanao – Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana on Wednesday lauded the Army’s 6th Infantry (ID) and local officials in three Mindanao provinces for their coordinated effort to recover loose guns in their respective areas.
Lorenzana, the keynote speaker of the 6th ID’s 31st founding anniversary, witnessed the destruction of more than 1,500 assorted firearms surrendered by residents in the provinces of Maguindanao, Lanao del Sur, North Cotabato, and Sultan Kudarat.
“Keep it up, keep it going, more unlicensed guns are still out there,” Lorenzana told Army and local government officials. The guns were voluntarily surrendered by owners with the help of local officials as part of the Army’s disarmament campaign.
Others were recovered during military law enforcement operations in the past several months.
The destruction of the armaments–a highlight of the 6th ID’s foundation anniversary activities–was witnessed by Major Gen. Cirilito Sobejana, 6th ID commander; Lt. Gen. Arnel Dela Vega, Western Mindanao Command chief; Maguindanao Governor Esmael Mangudadatu, and Sultan Kudarat Governor Pax Mangudadatu.
A road roller was used to destroy the war materiel inside the 6th ID camp, which included home-made machine guns, launchers for 60- and 81-millimeter mortars, and B-40 anti-tank rockets.
Other weapons were cut into pieces by soldiers through electric saws.
Dela Vega also lauded the support extended by local officials in collecting unlicensed firearms, in compliance with President Rodrigo Duterte’s disarmament directive.
Maguindanao had the highest number of surrendered firearms with about 1,000 assorted rifles.
Sobejana said the campaign would continue, especially in Maguindanao, because the Army believes that a lot of unlicensed firearms are still in the hands of unauthorized individuals and clans. (/PNA)
