ILOILO City – The Philippine Army’s 3rd Infantry Division (3ID) destroyed firearms of the New People’s Army (NPA) seized, surrendered and recovered in military operations yesterday at the 6th Forward Service Support Unit in Fort San Pedro here.
Seven of the 73 firearms were the subject of demilitarization and 66 were still being assessed.
According to Major General Benedict Arevalo, 3ID commander, these firearms were collected since 2018.
“The demilitarization is a symbol na tapos na itong mga baril na ginamit sa kasamaan. This is also to ensure na hindi na muli mahawakan ng mga kalaban” he said.
Out of 73 firearms, 60 were unserviceable.
In 2019, Arevalo said hundreds of firearms of the Revolutionary Proletarian Army-Alex Bongcayao Brigade (RPA-ABB) and the rebels were destroyed.
“Expect more firearms to be destroyed kasi marami tayong nakuha galing sa encounters,” Arevalo added.
On the other hand, Brigadier General Rogelio Ulanday, deputy commander of the Army Support Command, said the process of demilitarization is to cut the firearms using a grinder.
Before destroying, there is an approval by the Army disposal committee to know the disposition, if these surrendered firearms were standard and serviceable and the owners had already processed the needed documents./PN
