Maguindanao sur: Village officials in Datu Anggal Midtimbang, Maguindanao del Sur turned over on Thursday war materials to the Army's 601st Infantry Brigade (601Bde) in support of the government's campaign against loose firearms. Brig. Gen. Edgar Catu, the 601Bde commander, lauded the village leaders for helping the military reduce, if not eradicate, the proliferation of loose firearms in the hands of unauthorized individuals.

According to Philippines News Agency, Mayor Nathaniel Midtimbang of Datu Anggal Midtimbang municipality presented to Catu the loose firearms collected by village officials. The eight assorted firearms, including a 60 mm mortar tube, came from the villages of Midtimbang, Adaon, Mapayag, Brar, Tulunan, Nunangan, and Tugal.

'The surrender of these firearms indicates the people are supporting the disarmament campaign and shows that they are tired of armed conflict,' Midtimbang said in the vernacular.

Maj. Gen. Vladimir Cagara, commander of the Army's 6th Infantry Division, urged other civilians who possess unlicensed guns to come forward and turn them over to the military. Cagara also appealed to violent extremists in Maguindanao del Sur to avail of the government's peace and reconciliation program by laying down their guns and abandoning their armed struggle.