CVOs yield high-powered firearms to military

CAMP SIONGCO, Maguindanao , Philippines  – Civilian volunteers in North Upi, Maguindanao voluntarily turned over to the military yesterday 83 high-powered firearms in support of the government’s effort to disband armed groups in the province, an Army spokesman said.

Lt. Col. Benjamin Hao, civil-military relations chief of the Army’s 6th Infantry Division, said the CVO members decided to turn in their firearms to the 603rd Brigade through the intercession of their mayor, Ramon Piang.

Hao said the firearms the CVOs surrendered are now kept at the command post of the Bravo Company of the 6th Infantry Battalion based near the town proper of North Upi.

Hao said the CVOs that turned their firearms in have asked their local government unit and the 603rd Brigade to secure the areas supposedly under their watch as armed groups might take advantage and attack now that they are unarmed and vulnerable.

“The commander of the 603rd Brigade, Col. Ernesto Aradanas, has ordered the military unit in North Upi to put in place security measures to maintain peace and order in the area,” Hao said.

The turnover of the firearms owned by the CVOs in North Upi was preceded by the voluntary surrender of more than 200 firearms by community militias in Maguindanao’s adjoining towns of Datu Odin, Datu Piang, Rajah Buayan and Buluan.

Hao said the 6th ID has deployed more soldiers in areas where CVOs have voluntarily disarmed to prevent any security vacuum that may possibly arise as a consequence of their having willingly deactivated themselves.