CATBALOGAN CITY – Sixty-five firearms seized in the campaign against the New People’s Army (NPA) in Eastern Visayas by the 8th Infantry Division (ID) were destroyed in a ceremony here Saturday, Aug. 20.
Lt. Gen. Bartolome Vicente Bacarro, chief of staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, led the destruction of 45 M-16 rifles, one M4 carbine assault rifle, five AK47 rifles, eight homemade revolvers, and six other various firearms.
The firearms recovered since November 2019 were destroyed by cutting them into smaller pieces using a metal bond circular saw.
Bacarro noted that the activity is a manifestation of the accomplishments of the 8th ID in its anti-insurgency campaign.
He ordered 8th ID commander, Major Gen. Edgardo de Leon, to sustain the gains they have earned to totally end insurgency in the region.
"We have a commitment made to the former President (Duterte) that we will end insurgency. However, we realized that we need more time. So the soonest possible time that we can end insurgency, the better."
Also present were in the ceremony were Lt. Gen. Robert Dauz of the Visayas Command, Samar Gov. Sharee Ann Tan, and DILG-Region 8 director Atty. Arnaldo Escober Jr.