MANILA, Philippines – Some 700 old and unserviceable firearms were burned at the Philippine National Police headquarters in Camp Crame on Monday to be recycled into farming tools and implements.

These 700 firearms, said PNP spokesman Senior Superintendent Leonardo Espina, consisted of rifles, shotguns and handguns that were confiscated from criminal groups. Some of these firearms were also unserviceable government-owned firearms.

The burning was held in commemoration of the 9th anniversary of the United Nations Conference on the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons.

Metal parts from these destroyed firearms will be recycled into farm tools and implements for the agricultural sector.

“By converting these guns into ploughshares, we are putting these materials into better use for food production.” Espina said.