Rebels, residents yield 302 guns to Army in Maguindanao from January to March

From MindaNews (Apr 3): Rebels, residents yield 302 guns to Army in Maguindanao from January to March

At least 302 firearms have been turned over to the Army’s 6thInfantry Division from January to March under the government’s Comprehensive Local Integration Program (CLIP) or the ‘Balik Baril‘ program, Lt. Col. Gerry Besana, spokesperson of the Army’s 6th Infantry Division said.

The latest to yield their firearms were Moro rebels and some residents of Ampatuan, Maguindanao, on March 31, he said.

During the turnover ceremony, the guns were received by Ampatuan Mayor Rasul Sangki and 1st Mechanized Battalion commander, Lt. Col. Lauro Oliveros.

The firearms yielded include a 60mm mortar, Minimi light machine gun, homemade caliber .45 pistol, an Uzi, two homemade caliber 9 mm, homemade KG 9, homemade 5.56 mm with attached shotgun, three homemade shotguns; homemade 5.56 mm M16 rifle, three homemade M79 grenade launchers; and a caliber 38 revolver.

Maj. Gen. Arnel dela Vega, commander of the Army’s 6th Infantry Division, Commander, expressed appreciation to the residents’ support to the government’s Balik-Baril program, especially when it was intensified in Maguindanao starting January.

Among those that implemented the program were local government units from the Iranun municipalities in Maguindanao, including Parang, Matanog, Buldon, and Barira, considered lairs of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.

http://www.mindanews.com/top-stories/2018/04/rebels-residents-yield-302-guns-army-maguindanao-january-march/