DATU ODIN SINSUAT, Maguindanao del Norte โ President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Friday, April 11, inspected over a thousand high-powered firearms turned over by civilians and former combatants as part of a regional disarmament initiative aligned with the governmentโs peace-building efforts in Mindanao.
Army officials from the 6th Infantry Division (6ID) presented the surrendered weapons during the Presidentโs visit to Camp Siongco, the divisionโs headquarters. The cache includes assault rifles, sniper rifles, grenade launchers, anti-tank weapons, machine guns, mortars, and pistols.
The bulk of the firearms were voluntarily surrendered over the past seven months under the Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW) Management Program, a joint effort of the 6ID and the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU).
Firearms Recovered
Some weapons were also recovered during anti-terrorism operations across Central Mindanao, particularly in the provinces of Maguindanao del Sur, Maguindanao del Norte, Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, South Cotabato, and Sarangani, as well as in Cotabato City.
6ID Commander Major General Donald Gumiran and Western Mindanao Command Chief Lt. Gen. Antonio Nafarrete briefed the President on the initiativeโs progress and the role of community cooperation in achieving disarmament milestones.
President Marcos was accompanied by Presidential Peace Adviser Carlito Galvez Jr. as he inspected the confiscated and surrendered firearms laid out at the 6ID gymnasium. He lauded the efforts of the military and local stakeholders in fostering a climate of trust and security conducive to peace.
Broader Peace Roadmap
The disarmament program complements the governmentโs broader peace roadmap, including the recently signed directive allowing the National Amnesty Commission (NAC) to issue safe conduct passes to former members of the New Peopleโs Army (NPA), Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), and Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) who are applying for amnesty but have pending criminal cases.
NAC officials said the safe conduct passes will allow these individuals to move freely and participate in the amnesty process without fear of arrest, a critical confidence-building measure to support their reintegration into society.
President Marcos signed the memorandum on Thursday, April 10, during a symbolic ceremony at the Officersโ Club of Camp Siongco, witnessed by key officials from the Bangsamoro government, military, police, and former rebel leaders.
