4 Bomb-Makers and Mamasapano Residents Surrender Weapons in Maguindanao del Sur

COTABATO CITY – Four bomb-making experts from a local terror group and residents of Mamasapano, Maguindanao del Sur have surrendered to authorities in separate ceremonies, marking progress in disarmament and peace efforts in the region.

On February 27, four bomb-makers pledged allegiance to the government in Datu Anggal Midtimbang, surrendering an M16 rifle, two caliber .30 M1 Garand rifles, a 40mm grenade launcher, and improvised explosive devices (IEDs) capable of remote detonation. They also renounced ties with the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) during a ceremony attended by local executives and officials from the 1st Mechanized Battalion, led by Lt. Col. Robert Betita, and Col. Edgar Catu, commander of the 601st Infantry Brigade.

“We are thankful to all local officials and barangay leaders who helped secure their surrender through dialogues,” Army Brig. Gen. Donald Gumiran, commander of the 6th Infantry Division, said.

Earlier, on February 24, residents of Mamasapano turned over 13 M1 Garand rifles to the Army’s 33rd Infantry Battalion as part of peace efforts. The surrender was conducted alongside the signing of a peace covenant by local election candidates to support peaceful May 2025 elections in the municipality.

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The peace dialogue, held at the 33rd IB command post in Barangay Zapakan, Radjah Buayan, was organized by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) in the Bangsamoro region, the Maguindanao del Sur Provincial Police Office, the Mamasapano Municipal Police Station, Mayor Akmad Ampatuan Jr., and Col. Edgar Catu. Candidates signed a manifesto supporting election security measures.

Through the efforts of Mayor Ampatuan and Col. Catu, residents surrendered their firearms to back the Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW) Management Program of the 6th ID and the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation, and Unity.

The 6th Infantry Division, implementing the SALW program across six provinces and three cities in Central Mindanao, has collected over 700 firearms in the past six months, including combat rifles, machine guns, pistols, and grenade launchers, many from former members of Moro fronts that now have peace agreements with the national government.

These efforts highlight continued disarmament and reconciliation initiatives aimed at promoting long-term stability in Maguindanao del Sur and the wider Bangsamoro region.

Source: PHILIPPINE STAR

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