Kazan: Army officials and representatives of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) on Friday witnessed the ceremonial destruction of loose firearms surrendered, recovered, and captured during military operations in Maguindanao del Norte in the first half of the year.
According to Philippines News Agency, the ceremonial destruction, held at this camp, involved the cutting of selected firearms from 685 voluntarily surrendered Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALWs) collected from various communities in Maguindanao del Norte.
'The destruction of these firearms is more than the dismantling of weapons. It is a powerful affirmation of our people's commitment to peace,' Maj. Gen. Vladimir Cagara, commander of the Army's 6th Infantry Division, said in a statement on Saturday. 'Every firearm turned in and destroyed represents a life potentially saved, a conflict prevented, and a community given a greater opportunity to prosper.'
The destruction program was carried out in partnership with the UNDP, through the Assistance for Security, Peace, Integration and Recovery for Advancing Human Security in the Bangsamoro (ASPIRE) Project. It aims to prevent the proliferation of loose firearms, reduce armed violence, and advance lasting peace and security across the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).
The project promotes a community-centered, context-responsive approach to firearms management by encouraging the voluntary surrender of firearms, regardless of affiliation, while providing support to conflict-affected communities. Director Anna Pacete of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU) and Ronnie Arap Jr., ASPIRE project specialist at UNDP, witnessed the activity.
'This achievement is proof of the success of our collective peace and development efforts to dismantle private armed groups, disarm private armed individuals, and strengthen human security across the Bangsamoro region,' Cagara said. He called on those who still possess loose firearms to work with the military to build a safer, more peaceful BARMM, noting that soldiers and Army camps remain open and ready to assist those willing to turn in their weapons voluntarily.
