COTABATO CITY: Local officials and residents of Datu Saudi Ampatuan in Maguindanao del Sur surrendered four high-powered firearms on Sunday, signaling support for the government's ongoing disarmament initiative. Brig. Gen. Romeo Macapaz, police regional director for the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), reported that Dapiawan Barangay Chairman Ibrahim Guno, along with other local leaders, led the surrender of firearms during a handover ceremony at the municipal police station. According to Philippines News Agency, Guno, who initially collected the firearms from residents, then notified police of the surrendered weapons. "The civilians handed over four M16 rifles," Macapaz said in a statement Monday, commending the community's proactive involvement in promoting peace and security. The disarmament followed a series of dialogues organized by the Datu Saudi Ampatuan municipal police station (MPS) and barangay officials. Macapaz said these strategic discussions encouraged local leaders to advocate for the voluntary surrender of unlicensed firearms, a move aimed at fostering safer communities and enhancing crime prevention in the region. The surrendered firearms are now under the custody of Datu Saudi Ampatuan MPS for documentation and will be forwarded to the Provincial Supply and Accountable Office (PSAO) of the Maguindanao del Sur Provincial Police Office for safekeeping. Since January, over 200 loose firearms have been surrendered to BARMM police as part of the broader peace and security efforts in the region.