ASSORTED firearms were destroyed during a demilitarization ceremony on Friday morning, March 6, at the Police Regional Office (PRO)-Davao headquarters in Catitipan, Davao City to prevent it from being reused as part of the effort to put an end to the local communist armed conflict (Elcac).
PRO-Davao director Police Brigadier General Filmore Escobal said Friday that the demilitarized firearms include one Garand rifle, two M14, five M16, one shotgun, one AK47, one basic assault rifle, three caliber 45 and two caliber 38, from former New People’s Army (NPA) rebels.
The activity is a process by which firearms, explosive and ammunition turned in by former NPA members are destroyed through the cutting of individual steel pieces using circular saw or blow torch into sections, bending and deforming each piece, deforming the hammer, and trigger using blowtorch, cutting or chopping the wooden parts and stamping the aluminum parts.
The destruction was led by the PRO-Davao Firearms, Explosives and Ammunition Disposal Committee (FEADC). Escobal assured that the firearms underwent the strict documentation of the process to prevent “cannibalization and pilferage” of firearms.
The rite is in line with President Rodrigo Duterte’s campaign to end the local communist armed conflict through Executive order no. 70 that seeks to institute a whole government approach to end the communist insurgency.
In attendance during the activity were Davao Oriental Governor Nelson Dayanghirang, Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Assistant Secretary Alexander Macario, Davao del Norte Governor Jayvee Tyrone Uy, Davao First District Councilor Mabel Sunga Acosta and Tarragona, Davao Oriental Mayor Nelson L Uy along with 10th Infantry Division Commander Major General Reuben S Basiao and 1003rd Infantry Brigade Commander Colonel Nolasco Mempin.
In his message, Dayanghirang commended the efforts of the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) in running after rebels in their province and in achieving lasting peace.
He added that based on the information revealed by some former rebels, the communists are attempting to recover the barangays that were previously declared as insurgency-free. This is the reason why the local government is strengthening its effort to provide the needed services on the ground.
“Kaya naman dapat doblehin ang kilos upang hindi na muli makapasok pa sila sa lugar,” Dayanghirang said.
Dayanghirang added that the initiative of PRO Davao in deploying policemen in different barangays in far-flung areas is a deterrent factor to prevent the entry of NPA in the area. He emphasized to the police the importance of maintaining a good relationship with the community to win back their trust and support. (JCR)