Weapons cache surrendered in Southern Philippines

Posted to the Mindanao Examiner (Aug 14, 2023): Weapons cache surrendered in Southern Philippines

KIDAPAWAN CITY – About a dozen village leaders in the special geographic area of the Muslim autonomous region in North Cotabato have surrendered a cache of weapons, including anti-tank rocket launchers and sniper rifles ahead of the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections.

This was confirmed Monday by the Western Mindanao Command, saying the mass surrender of weapons is part of the military’s campaign in the southern region.

It said the military collected at least 22 illegal weapons from the village leaders who voluntarily surrendered the firearms. It was unknown whether the weapons belonged to the former rebel group Moro Islamic Liberation Front or civilians.

The Western Mindanao Command also quoted Brig. Gen. Donald Gumiran, commander of the 602nd Infantry Brigade, who attributed the surrender of the weapons to the government’s “Balik-Baril” (Bring a Rifle Improve your Livelihood) program or “Guns-for-Peace Program” – it lures rebels to return to the folds of the law in exchange for rewards and livelihood aid for those who surrender their weapons - dilapidated, vintage or not.

Gumiran said they collected two .50-caliber Barrett rifles, five rocket-propelled grenade launchers and six ammunition, four sniper rifles, six 12-gauge shotguns, one 9mm pistol, one .22-caliber revolver, one .38-caliber revolver, one .45-caliber pistol, one .357 caliber revolver, four shotgun magazines, four sniper rifle magazines and one magazine for .45-caliber pistol. He said the weapons are now in the custody of the 34th Infantry Battalion.

“With the participation of local governments and our peace partners, the campaign was sustained in preparation for the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan 2023 elections. Rest assured that the Joint Task Forces will continue to facilitate law enforcement support operations to prevent lawless violence and curb illegal activities in the joint area of operations,” the Western Mindanao Command quoted Philippine Army chief Lt. Gen. Roy Galido.

The Balik-Baril program was first introduced during President Corazon Aquino’s time where the government pays as such as P25, 000 for every weapon surrendered by rebels, aside from at least P18,000 in initial aid. Formerly under the National Reconciliation and Development Program (NRDP) which was intended to coordinate and integrate efforts of the government and non-governmental organizations, and the private sectors for the rebel returnees.

According to the government, although launched on December 24, 1986, it was not until 1988 that the NRDP went into full swing providing loans to rebel returnees under Balik-Baril program. The Aquino administration said the program was so successful that it transferred Balik-Baril to Peace and Order Councils which facilitated and hastened the processing of assistance to the rebels at the lowest levels of government.

It said NRDP had greatly contributed to the substantial neutralization of the secessionist movement in southern Philippines as well as improved peace and order situation in erstwhile insurgent affected areas.

With the success of the program, the government expanded this and called it the Social Integration Program and offered rebel returnees higher cash aid of P20,000 improved emergency assistance, P50,000 livelihood fund and increased amount for the Balik-Baril component.

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