PNP destroys 7.6K unserviceable firearms

From the Philippine News Agency (Jul 18, 2023): PNP destroys 7.6K unserviceable firearms (By Christopher Lloyd Caliwan)

DESTROYED. The Philippine National Police destroyed a total of 7,612 beyond economical repair, which include confiscated, captured, surrendered, deposited, abandoned and forfeited-turned PNP property firearms held in Camp Crame in Quezon City on Monday afternoon (July 17, 2023). The process involved the cutting of individual steel pieces using a circular saw, rendering the firearms permanently inoperable. This stringent measure guarantees that these firearms could not be used again for unauthorized purposes. (Photo courtesy of PNP)

MANILA – The Philippine National Police (PNP) has destroyed a total of 7,612 beyond economical repair (BER), which include confiscated, captured, surrendered, deposited, abandoned and forfeited-turned PNP property firearms (CCSDAF-TPPF).

PNP chief Gen. Benjamin Acorda Jr. led the ceremonial demilitarization of assorted discarded firearms at the PNP Grandstand, Transformation Oval in Camp Crame, Quezon City on Monday afternoon.

Acorda said the importance of demilitarization with its main goal of thwarting any future illicit use of firearms.

"By destroying these weapons, we completely eliminate any possibility of them falling into the hands of criminals and being used as instruments of violence. Our intention is not to erase their history, but to repurpose their existence for the betterment of our society," Acorda said.

“This ceremony signifies our determination to create a safer environment for our communities. It is a clear message to those who wish to disrupt our peace and stability that we are relentless in our pursuit of justice. The removal of these firearms from circulation reinforces our resolve to protect our citizens, maintain law and order, and ultimately build a peaceful society,” the PNP chief added.

The process involved the cutting of individual steel pieces using a circular saw, rendering the firearms permanently inoperable. This stringent measure guarantees that these firearms could not be used again for unauthorized purposes.

The Logistics Support Service, responsible for the disposal of all Beyond Economic Repair (BER) PNP properties, oversaw the demilitarization process. It began with an extensive inventory and technical inspection of the 25,476 units of CCSDAF from Feb. 8, 2021, to Jan. 25, 2022.

Subsequently, demilitarization activities were carried out in several batches. The first batch demilitarized 6,338 units, followed by 5,000 units in the second batch, and 6,526 units in the third batch. The ceremonial demilitarization event concludes the process with the remaining 7,612 units of BER CCSDAF-TPPF.

In adherence to PNP policies and guidelines on property disposal, the scrap and waste materials resulting from the demilitarization process will be disposed of through a public bidding process.

The proceeds generated from the auction will be deposited in the PNP Trust Receipt Account.

These funds will be utilized to support the various plans and programs of the PNP organization, further strengthening law enforcement capabilities and promoting public safety.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1205834

New N. Samar coastal road boosts Army’s morale to end rebellion

From the Philippine News Agency (Jul 18, 2023): New N. Samar coastal road boosts Army’s morale to end rebellion (By Sarwell Meniano)

NEW ROAD. A section of the newly opened Samar Pacific Coastal Road in Palapag, Northern Samar. The completion of the project has raised the confidence of the Philippine Army to address insurgency in Northern Samar province within the year. (Photo courtesy of Department of Public Works and Highways)

TACLOBAN CITY – The completion of Samar Pacific Coastal Road (SPCR) phase 1 has raised the confidence of the Philippine Army to address insurgency in Northern Samar province within the year.

Maj. Gen. Camilo Ligayo, commander of the Army’s 8th Infantry Division, in a statement Tuesday said the new road network has opened access to some areas in the province previously influenced by the New People’s Army (NPA).

The official thanked the central government for its continued support in putting initiatives in places considered critical and vulnerable, which will be of help in defeating the remaining armed rebels in Northern Samar.

“We believe that infrastructure development is key to ending the insurgency. The SPCR project will benefit the communities by offering a much safer and easy access to transportation and the delivery of the much-needed government services,” Ligayo added.

Ligayo pointed out that areas in the Pacific towns of Northern Samar will provide residents better access to transport their agricultural products to the town center.

The fast delivery of government services in remote areas will negate the NPA’s propaganda of the lack of government services in remote areas.

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on July 14 led the inauguration of the Korean-funded SPCR project phase 1 in Simora village in Palapag, Northern Samar. It was completed after five years of construction.

The PHP1.12 billion SPCR project phase 1 has opened and concreted 11.6-kilometers of road stretch, including three bridges. The project is funded by the South Korean government through the Export-Import Bank of Korea.

Northern Samar is the most insurgency-affected province in Eastern Visayas with the operation of two active NPA guerrilla fronts.

The military said although front committees 1 and 15 are still active, they are not in control of any village in Northern Samar.

Front committee 2 operating in the boundary of Samar and Northern Samar has been dismantled this year after the capture and surrender of some of its combatants and the recovery of several firearms.

The NPA front committee 3, which operates near the boundaries of Northern Samar and Eastern Samar provinces, has also been weakened after the series of operations by government forces.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1205849

NPA force in Abra at ‘low point’ as townsfolk clamor for peace

From the Philippine News Agency (Jul 18, 2023): NPA force in Abra at ‘low point’ as townsfolk clamor for peace (By Liza Agoot)

SPENT FORCE. Brig. Gen. Ferdinand Melchor dela Cruz, commander of the Philippine Army's 501st Infantry Brigade, says Tuesday (July 18, 2023) that the New People's Army (NPA) in the province is at its weakest as locals have become supportive of the government's peace and development efforts. He said former NPA supporters now consider the rebels "unwanted" in their communities. (PNA photo by Liza T. Agoot)

BANGUED, Abra – The Philippine Army in Abra said the New People's Army (NPA) in the province is now at its ‘lowest point’ as locals now want peace and development versus giving support to the terrorist organization.

Brig. Gen. Ferdinand Melchor dela Cruz, commander of the Army's 501st Infantry Brigade (501st IBde), said in an interview on Tuesday that “nali-limit na lang sila sa areas na master nila. Meron pa silang kaunting mga supporters kaya lang iyong mga dati nilang supporters na din ang nag drive-out sa kanila (their area is just now limited to terrains that they are familiar with. They still have a few supporters but those who drove them out of the community are also their previous supporters) who opt to have peace and development in their places."

The 501st IBde covers the whole of Abra and four towns of Mountain Province aside from Region 1.

Dela Cruz cited the tri-boundaries of Abra, Mountain Province and Ilocos where the former supporters were the ones who declared the rebels as "unwanted" in their communities and urged them to surrender and lay down their arms.

He advised the public to stop supporting the remaining NPA insurgents, encourage them to surrender and support the peace efforts of the government.

“When they are weak, they cannot terrorize, they cannot sow terror and they cannot make the people afraid of them. Let us take advantage of this situation when the NPAs are so weak. Let us continue to support the call for their surrender,” the Army officer said.

Dela Cruz also cited the gains of the whole-of-nation approach to ending the insurgency, where various government agencies put their resources together to bring development in far-flung areas targeted by the NPAs.

He said the people feel the government’s presence and support its development efforts, including the construction of roads, provision of livelihood, electrification and education for the youth.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1205890