Army destroys firearms from rebels, terrorists

COTABATO CITY, Philippines — The Philippine Army destroyed Friday 300 firearms turned in by local terrorists and New People’s Army (NPA) guerillas who surrendered in batches in recent months.

A road roller was used to run over the cache, which consists of assault rifles, grenade launchers and bolt-action sniper rifles.

About 400 members of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters, Dawlah Islamiya and NPA have surrendered to the Philippine Army’s 6th Infantry Division in the past three years.

Lt. Gen. Bartolome Bacarro, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief of staff, urged in a dialogue Friday the 6th ID personnel and officers to help sustain the AFP’s improving public trust ratings through local peace-building programs and put closure to violent religious extremism and communist insurgency in areas they cover.

The destruction of firearms was jointly led by Bacarro and 6th ID commander Major Gen. Roy Galido at Camp Siongco in nearby Datu Odin Sinsuat town, Maguindanao del Norte.