The police and military in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao raised the critical challenge posed by the growing number of unregistered firearms as the region prepares for its first-ever parliamentary elections in May 2025.
The Police Regional Office-Bangsamoro Autonomous Region and the Philippine Army 6th Infantry Division disclosed the threat during a multi-sectoral dialogue at Bonifacio Global City in Taguig City attended by significant stakeholders recently.
THE Police Regional Office-Bangsamoro Autonomous Region and the Philippine Army 6th Infantry Division discuss the current situation in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao and their roles in the upcoming parliamentary elections during a multi-sectoral dialogue at Bonifacio Global City in Taguig City attended by civil society organizations, journalists, political leaders, and other significant stakeholders from Nov. 16 to 18. (Ivy Tejano)
Police Col. Jibin Bongcayo, chief of the Regional Operations Division of the PRO-BAR, said they noted an increase in the number of loose firearms in the third quarter this year to 27,352 from 21,272 in the same period last year.
“In terms of the crime and security environment in the BARMM, among the challenges we have been working on to eradicate is the existence of these loose firearms. There is a possibility that these loose firearms can be or will be used in the elections,” Bongcayo said.
Records said that Sulu has the highest number of unregistered firearms with 5,492, followed by Lanao del Sur (5,037), Cotabato City (4,335), Maguindanao del Sur and del Norte with 4,323 and 4,203, respectively, Basilan 2,755, and Tawi-Tawi with 1,207.
Of these, 4,859 are associated with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, 3,752 are tied to the Moro National Liberation Front, 1,543 are from feuding clans, 1,280 are associated with threat groups, and 19,159 are attributed to expired licenses.
From Jan. 1 to Oct. 1 this year, the PRO-BAR said 48 individuals were arrested for possession of loose firearms. In line with the government’s campaign against loose firearms, 641 were surrendered, 135 were confiscated, and 10 were deposited to the police.
Of the 835 loose firearms, one was abandoned, 696 are small, and 139 are light weapons. Lanao del Sur had 260, followed by Maguindanao del Sur with 189, Sulu (122), Basilan (82), Tawi-Tawi (69), Maguindanao del Norte (63), and Cotabato City (50).
Philippine Army 6th Infantry Division assistant commander Brig. Gen. Nasser Lidasan said they seized 568 short and long firearms, recovered 115 improvised explosive devices, and neutralized 234 people in their areas of responsibility.
Bongcayo said that data shows many gun collectors in the region. He added that the police and the military are both continuously investigating the place of origin and who supplies these loose firearms to the BARMM.
Lidasan admitted that there are still threat groups in some parts of the region. He said there are local terrorist groups capable of conducting atrocities and unscrupulous politicians who are just observing and waiting for a chance.
The 6th Infantry Division noted 58 ridos or clan wars within the BARMM, of which 45 remain active, Lidasan said. He added that armed clashes between warring groups could erupt at any time, affecting the security situation, and would continue to paint a bad image of the region.
Bongcayo and Lidasan said that criminal incidents and atrocities in the BARMM would likely be reduced if people who acquired loose firearms would stop using them and instead resolve and negotiate matters concerning the region peacefully.
The Bangsamoro police and military said they are doing their best to maintain peace and order in the region, especially in the elections.
Aspire Project
Meanwhile, the United Nations Development Program introduced the “Aspire Project” funded by Japan in Maguindanao del Norte earlier this month.
The project, dubbed “Assistance for Peace, Security, Integration, and Recovery for Advancing Human Security,” aims to support the region.
The UNDP said the project supports the Bangsamoro small arms and light weapons program, implemented by the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation, and Unity. It also provides socioeconomic assistance to participants, encouraging them to register their firearms.
A study entitled “Appeasing Violence, Conjuring Peace: The Conflict Alert 2021–2023 Report,” published in August 2024 by the nonprofit Council for Climate and Conflict Action (CCCA) Asia, noted that solving the problem of loose firearms in the Bangsamoro region is challenging.
The CCCA said the presence of armed groups and private armies and the local practices that encourage retribution had made gun ownership necessary to provide a sense of security in the Bangsamoro region.
Ariel Hernandez, co-chair of a Joint Normalization Committee of the Philippine government and the MILF, reaffirmed the Japanese government’s call to strengthen the implementation of the Aspire project in the Bangsamoro.
Hernandez encouraged the local chief executives of the BARMM to support to the project, stressing that the successful execution of the Aspire project largely depends on their cooperation.