Maguindanao del Sur town residents surrender guns

ZAMBOANGA CITY , Philippines — Residents of Talayan, Maguindanao del Sur have surrendered more than a dozen high-powered firearms to the military.

Two rocket-propelled grenade launchers, a caliber .50 Barrett sniper rifle, five 9mm Uzi sub-machine guns, a 9mm Ultimax light machine gun, two 12-gauge shotguns, two M79 grenade launchers, an M203 grenade launcher, a caliber .38 handgun and assorted ammunition were turned over to 2nd Mechanized Battalion acting commanding officer Lt. Col. Tristan Tolentino, Army chief and Western Mindanao Command head Lt. Gen. Roy Galido said.

Galido said ground forces have intensified their campaign “to clear communities from tools of violence” ahead of the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections.