World · Philippines Bureau
Maguindanao Sur towns surrender firearms collected from residents
Three municipalities in Maguindanao del Sur have turned over six high-powered weapons, including a .50 caliber machine gun, to military authorities. The firearms were collected from constituents across Shariff Aguak, Ampatuan, and Sultan sa Barongis.
LSN Philippines ·
COTABATO CITY — Local government officials in three Maguindanao del Sur towns have surrendered a cache of loose firearms to the Philippine Army, marking a continued effort to reduce weapons in civilian hands across the region.
Brig. Gen. Ricky Bunayog, acting commander of the Army's 6th Infantry Division, received six high-powered firearms collected from residents of Shariff Aguak, Ampatuan, and Sultan sa Barongis. The weapons included a .50 caliber machine gun and other military-grade arms, according to military officials.
The voluntary surrender reflects ongoing community cooperation with local government units in addressing firearm proliferation in the southern region. Town mayors from the three municipalities coordinated the collection effort, mobilizing residents to turn in unregistered or illegally-held weapons.
The initiative aligns with broader peace and security objectives in Mindanao, where reducing the circulation of loose firearms has been identified as critical to improving public safety and supporting rehabilitation efforts in conflict-affected areas.