More firearms, bombs surrendered by Cotabato residents

COTABATO CITY, Philippines — Residents of far-flung towns in Cotabato, once the scene of deadly clashes between state security forces and Moro secessionist rebels, surrendered 22 more firearms and large home-made bombs to the Army on Thursday, August 21.

The cache, consisting of M16 and M14 assault rifles, long-range bolt-action sniper rifles, a 60-millimeter mortar, pistols, and a dozen improvised explosive devices (IEDs) rigged with blasting mechanisms that can be detonated remotely using mobile phones, is now in the custody of the Army's 34th Infantry Battalion.

The combat weapons and IEDs were turned over by local executives in three newly-created Bangsamoro municipalities in Cotabato — Pahamuddin, Nabalawag, and Kadayangan — to the 34th IB during a simple rite in Barangay Salunayan, Midsayap. The turnover was witnessed by representatives from the regional police offices in the Bangsamoro region and Region 12.

Maj. Gen. Donald Gumiran, commander of the Army’s 6th Infantry Division, told reporters Friday, August 22, that the firearms, mortar, and IEDs were voluntarily surrendered by villagers through the intercession of their mayors and officials of the 34th IB, led by Lt. Col. Edgardo Batinay, and their immediate superior, Brig. Gen. Ricky Bunayog, commander of the 602nd Infantry Brigade.

The mayors in the Bangsamoro Special Geographic Area in Cotabato, along with Gov. Emmylou Taliño-Mendoza, Bunayog, and Gumiran, are implementing the Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW) Program of the 6th ID and the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation, and Unity.

The SALW Program, which covers all six provinces and four cities in Central Mindanao under the 6th ID, complements the normalization agenda of Malacañang’s peace initiatives with the Moro National Liberation Front and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.

Both fronts, which have separate peace agreements with the national government, maintain enclaves in Central Mindanao now recognized as “peace zones” by the police and military.

Gumiran expressed gratitude to Mendoza, chairperson of Regional Development Council 12, and her constituent-mayors in Cotabato for their strong support in implementing the SALW Program in their barangays.

Since the program’s launch in Central Mindanao in 2024, officials of the 602nd Infantry Brigade, Mendoza, and Cotabato mayors have facilitated the surrender of 811 firearms, including assault rifles, M60, .30 and .50 caliber machine guns, 40-millimeter grenade launchers, and B40 anti-tank rocket launchers.