The government’s campaign against illegal firearms continued to gain ground with the surrender to the military of 160 firearms by local officials in North Cotabato and Maguindanao provinces.

Brig. Gen. Cirilito Sobejana, commander of the Army’s 6th Infantry Division (ID), said that the surrender of huge number of firearms clearly indicated the civilians support to the government’s campaign to rid Mindanao with illegal firearms.

“The continuous turn-over of firearms is a clear manifestation of the sincere support of the civilians against loose firearms as this will help prevent crimes and other acts of violence,” Sobejana said.

On Thursday, 10 loose firearms were turned over to the 2nd Mechanized Infantry Battalion, under Lt. Col. Alvin Iyog by officials in Datu Piang town, Maguindanao.

Among the surrendered firearms were two 60mm mortar, 4 M79 grenade launchers, 1 caliber .50 Barret, two 9mm pistol and one 12-gauge shotgun.

Datu Piang town Mayor Genuine Kamaong led local officials from the town in Peace and Order Council and Anti-Drug Abuse Council in turning over the firearms to the military.

On Wednesday, 150 firearms were also turned over to the military by officials from Matalam town, North Cotabato.

Matalam Mayor Cheryl Catamco presented the firearms to North Cotabato Gov. Emmylou Mendoza and Sobejana.

The firearms surrendered included 67 homemade 12-gauge shotgun, 28 Garand rifles, 10 Carbines, six M79 rifles, 16 Springfield rifles, five Barret rifles, three M14 rifles, a Colt rifle, an automatic rifle, three caliber .38 pistols, a caliber .357 pistol, a mortar, three sub-machine guns and two 12-gauge pistols.

These firearms were collected from the 34 barangays of Matalam through the government’s Balik-Baril Program with the efforts of 7th Infantry Battalion under 602nd Infantry Brigade.

“I would like to commend the support and effort of the stakeholders involved for making this activity successful. We have just taken one big stride toward a peaceful community through eradication of loose firearms,” Sobejana said.

“The disarmament program of the government will continue until loose firearms are totally eradicated in the community,” he added.