Military destroys more than 1,000 firearms recovered since 2016

October 24, 2019

The military destroyed more than 1, 000 firearms recovered by government forces since 2016.

Capt. Jonathan Zata, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) public affairs spokesman, said a total of 1,561 firearms and 55,730 magazine assemblies were destroyed at the General Headquarters Supply Unit in Camp Aguinaldo Thursday.

Zata said this is part of the AFP's effort to curb the spread of illegal and loose firearms in the country.

"The firearms and magazines were either captured, confiscated, surrendered, and recovered through legitimate military operations and community engagements," he said.

Zata said the ceremonial demilitarization was part of the 12th Founding Anniversary of the AFP Munitions Control Center (MCC), a unit primarily mandated for the accounting and destruction of firearms and magazines, which were found  non-standard, obsolete, and beyond economical repair.

" Those that will not be used as evidence in court and are not subjected to the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program will not be destroyed and will be turned over to proper authorities", he said.

"Those with defaced serial numbers will undergo identification to determine its ownership, while all non-standard items will be destroyed," he added.

During the ceremony, Major General Erickson Gloria, deputy chief of staff delivered the message of AFP Vice Chief of Staff Vice Admiral Gaudencio Collado Jr.

In his message, Collado said this helps AFP units inspect and maintain their firearms and ensure serviceability of their issued weapons. 

"This translates to the 90 percent completion of the demilitarization program of the Philippine Army. Likewise, I would like to commend the AFP MCC for this successful demilitarization," Collado added.

Zata said "the AFP has an ongoing campaign to recover loose firearms as part of efforts to prevent and counter violent extremism in the country."

Last year, a total of 4,782 assorted unlicensed firearms were confiscated with the help of the local government executives, prominent political families, and religious leaders in Mindanao, he said. Robina Asido/DMS