Over 57K firearms destroyed in demilitarization rites

The Armed Forces of the Philippines on Thursday destroyed some 57,000 guns and accessories seized or surrendered to prevent them from ending up in enemy hands. In ceremonial demilitarization rites led by the AFP deputy chief of staff, Maj. Gen. Erickson Gloria, the military munitions control center destroyed 1,561 firearms and nearly 56,000 magazine assemblies that were either captured, confiscated, surrendered or recovered (CCSR) in military operations against communist rebels and community activities including gun amnesty programs since 2016. The AFP vice chief of staff, Vice Adm. Gaudencio Collado Jr., said the destruction of the CCSR firearms and magazine assemblies translated to “90 percent completion of the demilitarization program of the Philippine Army.”  The AFP has an ongoing campaign to recover loose firearms as part of its efforts to counter violent extremism in the country. —Jeannette I. Andrade