Politics · Philippines Bureau
Maguindanao del Norte residents turn in 11 unlicensed firearms to Army
Residents of Talitay in Maguindanao del Norte have voluntarily surrendered 11 high-powered weapons to the military, bolstering government efforts to reduce the circulation of loose firearms in the region.
LSN Philippines ·
COTABATO CITY — Eleven unlicensed high-powered firearms were surrendered to the Army's 601st Infantry Brigade by residents of Talitay, Maguindanao del Norte on Saturday, marking another step in the government's campaign to curb illegal weapons possession in Mindanao.
The weapons were collected by village officials and turned over through the facilitation of the 1st Mechanized Battalion, according to military sources. The handover represents a coordinated effort between local government units and armed forces personnel to address the proliferation of unregistered guns in the province.
The voluntary surrender comes as authorities continue implementing stricter measures to enhance peace and security in conflict-affected areas of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. Such initiatives aim to reduce armed violence and prevent weapons from falling into the hands of armed groups.
The government has intensified its nationwide firearms management program in recent years, encouraging citizens to surrender illegal and unregistered weapons through amnesty provisions and coordinated collection drives.