DEMILITARIZED. Assisted by servicemen, Brig. Gen. Arturo Rojas, acting commander of the Western Mindanao Command (center) cuts into pieces a rifle during the demilitarization of firearms at Camp Gen. Arturo Enrile in Zamboanga City Tuesday (Oct. 18, 2022). After cutting into pieces, the parts of firearms were burned to ensure that none of the weapons’ components would be recycled. (Photo courtesy of Westmincom)
ZAMBOANGA CITY – The 9th Forward Service Support Unit of the Army Support Command facilitated the destruction of 436 firearms Tuesday afternoon here.
“Demilitarization is the destruction of firearms to make them unusable by cutting them into several pieces and burning the parts to ensure that they will be destroyed,” the Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom) said in a statement Wednesday.
All the firearms—captured, confiscated, surrendered, and recovered since January this year—were cut and burned to ensure that no part of the firearms would be reused.
The bulk of the destroyed firearms belonged to extremist groups such as the Abu Sayyaf, Dawlah Islamiya (DI), Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters, and New People’s Army operating within the Westmincom’s area of responsibility.
Brig. Gen. Arturo Rojas, acting Westmincom chief, assured that the command and its joint task forces will continue to work for peace and progress in Mindanao.
“Our military operations against the different threat groups and our campaign against the proliferation of loose firearms, in collaboration with other local government agencies, will continue and be more vigorous,” Rojas said. (PNA)
