Local execs turn in loose guns to Army in Maguindanao Sur

From the Philippine News Agency (May 26, 2023): Local execs turn in loose guns to Army in Maguindanao Sur (By Edwin Fernandez)

‘TOOLS OF VIOLENCE’. Police and military officials view the loose firearms that local officials collected from their constituents and turned over to the Army in Datu Anggal Midtimbang municipality in Maguindanao del Sur on Thursday (May 25, 2023). At least eight high-powered firearms coming from seven barangays of the town were surrendered to the authorities. (Photo courtesy of Army’s 601st Infantry Brigade)

COTABATO CITY – Town officials of Datu Anggal Midtimbang in Maguindanao del Sur have turned over loose firearms they collected from constituents in support of the government’s disarmament program.

Datu Anggal Midtimbang Mayor Maryjoy Estephanie U. Midtimbang on Thursday afternoon presented the firearms to the 2nd Mechanized Infantry Battalion, headed by Lt. Col. Tristram A. Tolentino, and Brig. Gen. Oriel Pangcog, 601st Infantry Brigade commander, during a ceremony held at the town gymnasium.

The surrendered firearms consisted of an M16 rifle, two M1 Carbine rifles, two 12-gauge shotguns, a Garand rifle, a homemade Uzi machine pistol, and an improvised M14 rifle.

The firearms were collected by seven village officials from their constituents and turned over to local authorities.

Maguindanao del Sur officer in charge, Vice Governor Datu Nathaniel Midtimbang, also lauded the efforts of the military, police, and local leaders for their support of the government's “Balik Baril” program.

Pangcog, meanwhile, assured local leaders that the military would continue the task of reducing the “tools of violence” in the hands of unauthorized persons, saying this is vital in the preservation of peace and order in the Bangsamoro communities.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1202239