Civilians surrender 20 firearms in Talitay

Civilians in Talitay, Maguindanao del Norte surrendered an additional 20 firearms to military authorities on Saturday as part of a continuing disarmament campaign.

The weapons included assault rifles, bolt-action sniper rifles, pistols, grenades, and rocket launchers, all turned over through the initiative of local officials and Army units.

Lt. Col. Robert Betita of the 1st Mechanized Battalion and Col. Ricky Bunayog, acting commander of the 601st Infantry Brigade, received the surrendered weapons during a symbolic event at the local government center.

The Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW) Program, which encourages residents to surrender unlicensed firearms, is being implemented in Central Mindanao by the Army's 6th Infantry Division alongside peace advocates.

Lt. Gen. Antonio Nafarrete, commander of the 6th Infantry Division, emphasized the importance of community support for the SALW program and warned civilians that failure to comply could result in legal consequences.