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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider Mindanao devider Civilians turn in loose guns, 10 explosives in Sultan Kudarat

Civilians turn in loose guns, 10 explosives in Sultan Kudarat

Published Dec 22, 2025 12:36 pm
CAMP SIONGCO, Maguindanao del Norte – The military campaign against loose firearms in the hands of civilians is gaining momentum as more residents in Sultan Kudarat province are coming forward to surrender their unlicensed guns, an Army officer said Monday.
“The civilians are supporting our campaign; their action is laudable, it is a great help to our campaign against undocumented war materials,” Lt. Col. Tristan Rey P. Vallescas, commander of the 7th Infantry Battalion (IB) based in Sultan Kudarat, said in a statement.
Civilians, mostly farmers, decided to surrender their weapons in support of the government’s Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW) Management Program.
Vallescas said they voluntarily turned in their rifles and pistols during surrender rites held at the 7th IB headquarters in Bagumbayan town over the weekend.
They turned in 37 assorted firearms and 10 explosive devices.
Major Gen. Jose Vladimir R. Cagara, commander of the 6th Infantry Division (ID), lauded the cooperation among the 7th IB, local officials, and the residents of Bagumbayan in the surrender of war materiel.
“I appeal to other civilians who have unlicensed guns to peacefully surrender them to authorities because keeping an unlicensed gun is a crime,” Cagara said.
Since January this year, more than 2,000 assorted firearms have been surrendered, captured, or recovered by government forces in the 6th ID’s area of responsibility in South-Central Mindanao.
The provinces included Maguindanao del Sur, Maguindanao del Norte, Sultan Kudarat, South Cotabato, and parts of Sarangani and North Cotabato. (PNA)

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