BULUAN, Maguindanao — President Rodrigo R. Duterte’s visit to Maguindanao on Wednesday would surely boost the government’s Balik Baril program in the province, Governor Esmael Mangudadatu said.
While here, the President looked over and inspected some of the 900 loose firearms surrendered by civilians across the province in the past three months and presented at the jampacked town gymnasium during the launch of the disarmament program on Wednesday.
In exchange for the firearms, the President and the governor awarded, in symbolic rites, livelihood assistance packages to families of surrendered rebels in partnership with the provincial police and civilian authorities.
“Possession of guns only heightens the ego of holders and increases their propensity to harm or dominate non-affluent people or groups. In most cases, gun possession leads to loss of life or limb,” Mangudadatu told reporters shortly after the President left for another commitment in General Santos City on Wednesday evening.
The governor thus urged the youth to embrace the value of education and avail of the province’s scholarship program instead of treading the violent life of a rebel.
“The pen of a scholar is mightier than the sword (gun) of a martyr,” he said, citing the popular adage of the Prophet Mohammad in the Quran, and adding his own perception that “pens enlighten while guns hurt and provoke hatred.” (Noel Punzalan/PNA)
