ILIGAN CITY – Sixty-nine assorted firearms surrendered by the Moro Islamic Liberation Front were consolidated in Sulu on Wednesday, April 20, as part of the third phase of the decommissioning process.

The consolidation was done through the coordination of the Army’s 11th Infantry Division with the MILF counterparts at the 11ID headquarters at Kuta Heneral Teodulfo Bautista, Busbus, Jolo, Sulu, according to Joint Task Force Sulu Commander Maj. Gen. Ignatius Patrimonio
Firearms included in the consolidation stage were 42 M16 rifles, five M14 rifles, 10 Garand rifles, two M79 rifles, four BARs, five Sniper rifles, and one Carbine rifle. These firearms will be transported to Zamboanga City on Friday, April 22.
The third phase of the decommissioning process began last November 2021. In this phase, the former members of the MILF will have to hand over their firearms for safekeeping and deactivation.
The firearms will then be turned over to the International Decommissioning Body (IDB), which oversees the process of decommissioning of forces and weapons, for safekeeping while the other government agencies are doing the reintegration of the former combatants.
Western Mindanao Command (WestMinCom) Commander Lieutenant General Alfredo Rosario, Jr., said the activity is a good development in the peace accord with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) under the 2014 Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro.