FIREARMS SURRENDER. Photo shows 35 firearms surrendered under the Balik Baril program in Pagalungan, Maguindanao, on Monday (March 26). On same day, two other towns in the province, those of Datu Montawal and Mamasapano, also surrendered 45 and 25 firearms, respectively. (Photo courtesy of Jess Ali – RMN Cotabato)
CAMP SIONGCO, Maguindanao--Armed civilians in three towns of Maguindanao have separately surrendered Monday over 100 loose firearms under the government’s Balik Baril program, a military official said.
Capt. John Arvin Encinas, the Army’s 6th Infantry Division (ID) spokesman, said 45 firearms were surrendered in Datu Montawal town, 35 in Pagalungan, and 25 in Mamasapano, respectively.
“This is a clear indication that the Maguindanao people trust much the government and its peace and development programs,” Encinas said.
During the turnover rites of firearms in Pagalungan town, Mayor Salik Mamasabulod lauded his constituents for their voluntary surrender of the firearms, even as he urged others to do the same.
“We know that civilians are not allowed to carry firearms without necessary documents and reason as only authorities are allowed to do so. Better surrender your loose firearms than be caught later,” Mamasabulod told constituents during the Balik Baril ceremony held at the town gymnasium Monday.
Earlier, other towns in Maguindanao have yielded 181 firearms under the same program, bringing to 286 the total number of firearms relinquished so far to the government.
Meanwhile, in another development, Encinas said 81 members of the communist New People’s Army - Underground Mass Organization (NPA-Ugmo) from the Dulangan Manobo tribe in Sultan Kudarat province yielded before the military on March 24.
The Ugmo members, coming from the different sitios of Barangay Kabulangan, Bagumbayan, Sultan Kudarat, had sworn allegiance to the government as the result of the Army’s inter-agency peace dialogue--co-organized by the Army’s 33rd Infantry Battalion (IB) and local government of Bagumbayan.
Only recently, NPA recruits in the Lumad communities of Sitios Blukon, Striker, and Buhangan in Barangay Sto. Nino of same town had also surrendered to the military.
“As of today, the 33rd IB facilitated the surrender of 153 members of the NPA Guerilla Front 73 since May 2017 while a total of 331 members of the communist underground mass organization had withdrawn support from the NPA terror group,” Encinas said.
For his part, Maj. Gen. Arnel dela Vega, Army’s 6ID commander, has lauded the 33rd IB and other military units under his command for their efforts to convince the misled Lumads to turn their backs from the terrorist group and return to the mainstream society.
“History has taught us that no issues can be resolved by any form of armed struggle but rather win the peace than go to war,” Dela Vega said. (PNA)
