Unlicensed firearms totaling 49 handed over in Maguindanao del Norte region
In a significant move towards promoting peace and security in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region, villagers in Upi, Maguindanao Del Norte, voluntarily surrendered 49 firearms in 2025. This surrender was part of the Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW) Program, an ongoing government initiative aimed at reducing the presence of loose firearms.
The ceremony for the surrender of military equipment took place at the Upi town hall, with Brigadier General Michael Santos, 603rd Infantry Brigade commander, receiving the surrendered weapons. The surrendered firearms included a variety of weapons such as caliber .30 Browning Automatic Rifles, 7.62-millimeter rifles, M653s with attached M203 grenade launchers, M14 rifles, Garand rifles, M1 carbines, grenade launchers, pistols, revolvers, and shotguns.
The SALW Program is a key component of the peace process in the southern Philippines, involving groups such as the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) and Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF). The program is implemented in partnership with the Assistance for Security, Peace, Integration, and Recovery (Aspire) Project of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
Major General Donald Gumiran, 6th Infantry Division and Joint Task Force Central commander, emphasized the importance of the campaign against the proliferation of loose firearms. He stated that the surrender of military equipment is a clear proof that the community now prefers peace over violence.
The Aspire Project provides technical assistance and strengthens the capacity of local governments and communities. The strong ties and cooperation between the community, local government, and the military have led to this successful surrender of military equipment.
It is important to note that the SALW Program does not mention any specific surrender of military equipment on August 8, 2025. However, the program is linked to broader efforts coordinated by the government and partners to control and reduce small arms proliferation in conflict-affected areas.
The surrendered firearms are currently in the custody of the 57th Infantry Battalion (57IB) for safekeeping. The SALW Program aims to reduce the number of loose firearms in communities to ensure security and order in the area. This demonstrates a coordinated peace and stabilization effort focused on reducing loose firearms in conflict-affected southern Philippines.
- The surrender of firearms in Upi, Maguindanao Del Norte, in 2025, served as a significant development in the crime and justice sector, contributing to the broader efforts of the government and partners to control and reduce small arms proliferation in conflict-affected areas.
- Politics in Zamboanga were influenced by the successful surrender of military equipment in the SALW Program, as the community's decision to prefer peace over violence has significant implications for general-news discussions on security and peace in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region.
- The Government's initiative, the SALW Program, has been extended to partnerships with international bodies like the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and Moro factions such as the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) and Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), indicating a commitment to addressing crime-and-justice matters in the southern Philippines on a regional scale.
