REBEL FIREARMS. The Army's 97th Infantry Battalion turns over Thursday (December 17, 2020) 23 assorted high-powered firearms to the Zamboanga del Norte Provincial Police Office for processing as part of the requirements in the government's Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program. Lt. Col. Manaros Boransing, 97IB commander, said the firearms were surrendered by the NPA's cell HQ-KALAW, which was dismantled by government forces in August 2020. (Photo courtesy of 97IB)
ZAMBOANGA CITY--The Army’s 97th Infantry Battalion (IB) has turned over 23 assorted high-powered firearms to the Zamboanga del Norte Provincial Police Office (ZNPPO) for the conduct of Technical Inspection Report (TIP) and Cost of Evaluation Report (CER).
Maj. Gen. Generoso Ponio, commander of the Army’s 1st Infantry Division, said Friday the firearms were surrendered by the communist New People’s Army (NPA) "terrorist cell" HQ-KALAW, the Regional Operations Command of the Western Mindanao Regional Party Committee (WMRPC).
Ponio said the 23 firearms, which were turned over Thursday to the ZNPPO, consisted of 15 AK-47 assault rifles, four M16A1 “Baby Armalite” assault rifles, two M4A1 assault rifles, an M79 grenade launcher, and a .50-caliber Barret sniper rifle.
Ponio said the TIP and CER form part of the requirements for availing of firearms remuneration assistance for former NPA rebels under the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (ECLIP).
Lt. Col. Manaros Boransing, commander of the 97IB, said Friday that the firearms were surrendered when his command dismantled the NPA’s cell HQ-KALAW in August this year. (PNA)
