COTABATO CITY – Officials of Makilala, North Cotabato, surrendered on Monday 65 assorted loose firearms collected from civilians of the town’s 38 barangays (villages).
“The surrender of these firearms signifies the town’s all-out support to the disarmament program of President Rodrigo Duterte,” Makilala Mayor Rudy Caoagdan said in a statement during the turnover rite held at the Makilala town hall grounds.
The firearms were formally received by Senior Supt. Maximo Layugan, North Cotabato provincial police director, and Lt. Col. Rhojun Rosales, commander of the Army’s 39th Infantry Battalion.
Among the firearms surrendered were a Browning automatic rifle, M14 rifles, M16 rifles, Garand rifles, Carbine rifles, M203 launchers with live shells, 12-gauge shotguns, and .45 and .38 improvised pistols.
Makilala is the sixth local government unit in North Cotabato that turned over loose firearms to police and military authorities.
The local governments of M’lang, Carmen, Midsayap, Matalam, and Pikit also have surrendered guns in support of the disarmament program of the Duterte administration. (PNA)