Four farmers have voluntarily surrendered their firearms and ammunition to the 11th Infantry Battalion (11IB) of the Philippine Army in Siaton, Negros Oriental on Thursday afternoon.
A report from the Negros Oriental Provincial Police Office (NOPPO) on Friday said the items were turned over to the 11IB at its headquarters in Barangay Salag of Siaton town .
Surrendered were one unit KG9 submachine gun with one magazine and 14 rounds of 9mm ammunition; one .357-caliber revolver without serial number and with 10 rounds of ammunition; one .38-caliber revolver without ammunition; and a shotgun with 10 rounds of ammunition.
These were turned over to the NOPPO for proper disposition as the Army’s task is on peace and security while the Philippine National Police’s mandate is peace and order, Lt. Col. Roderick R. Salayo, 11IB commander, told the Philippine News Agency.
The four are from Barangay Napacao, Siaton, and are members of a farmer’s organization that is seeking to benefit from the government’s land reform program.
Army troops and the Siaton Police Station facilitated the surrender of the firearms and ammunition.
The farmers’ identities are being withheld pending further investigation by the police.
The report also did not give the farmers’ reason for possessing firearms
Source: Philippines News Agency
