Over 6,500 unusable guns destroyed, to be converted into farming tools
More than 6,500 firearms will be turned into farming tools as part of the demilitarization of the unusable guns under the custody of the Philippine National Police (PNP).
PNP chief Gen. Rodolfo Azurin, Jr. said the 6,526 firearms are beyond economical repair and include those confiscated, captured, surrendered, deposited, abandoned and forfeited-turned PNP property firearms.

He said the demilitarization process involved cutting individual steel pieces into sections using a circular saw or blowtorch, bending and deforming each piece, deforming hammer and trigger assembly using a blowtorch, grinder, or power tools, and cutting or chopping wooden parts, and stamping aluminum parts.
"The cut-up metal pieces are disposed-off as recyclable scrap materials and may be forged or fabricated into farming tools and industrial equipment," said Azurin.
The PNP Logistics office earlier initiated the demilitarization process by conducting inventory and technical inspection on the 25,476 units of firearms under PNP custody from February 8 last year to January 25, 2022.
Under the PNP Memorandum Circular No. 2017-017, Demilitarization of firearms which means "Destruction" of firearms, explosives, and ammunition is an allowable method of disposal if PNP Property is already unsaleable and may pose hazard to the public if not destroyed.

"This demilitarization process renders these firearms and their parts unusable by reducing them to scrap metal, thus preventing them from being recycled into functional firearms," said Azurin.
"This is also part of the PNP gun control measures to keep firearms off the hands of criminal elements and unauthorized individuals," he added.