September 9, 2024 | 5:14pm
COTABATO CITY — Residents of Maguindanao del Sur surrendered to the Philippine Army another weapons cache in support of an inter-agency disarmament campaign complementing the firearms decommissioning thrusts of the Mindanao peace process.
The weapons, nine M79 grenade launchers, three B-40 rocket launchers, two 9 millimeter Uzi machine pistols, a 9 millimeter KG-9 machine pistol, anti-anti rockets and fragmentation grenades, were turned over by owners to officials of the 2nd Mechanized Battalion and the 601st Infantry Brigade during a symbolic rite in Talayan, Maguindanao del Sur on Saturday, September 7.
Major Gen. Antonio Nafarrete, commander of the Army’s 6th Infantry Division, on Monday said that the cache was voluntarily surrendered by residents of Talayan in support of the multi-sector and inter-agency Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW) Management Program now being implemented in areas covered by 6th ID.
The 6th ID, police units in the Bangsamoro region and in Region 12 and local government units are cooperating in pushing the SALW Management Program forward.
Nafarrete, also concurrent commander of the anti-terror Joint Task Force Central, said residents of different barangays in Talayan agreed to surrender the weapons through the joint intercession of local executives, officials of the 2nd Mechanized Battalion and the commander of the 601st Infantry Brigade, Brig. Gen. Oriel Pangcog.
Different units of 6th ID had collected more than 40 assault rifles, grenade launchers, M60 machineguns, 40 millimeter grenade projectiles and dozen B40 rocket launchers in one surrender rite after another since the SALW Management Program was launched last month.
The program covers the provinces of Maguindanao del Sur, Maguindanao del Norte Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, South Cotabato, and Sarangani provinces and the cities of Cotabato, Tacurong, Koronadal and General Santos, all under 6th ID’s jurisdiction.
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