Army to destroy Maute weapons seized in Marawi City

Sneaking into Camp Ranao in Marawi City at the height of the Islamist terrorist siege, President Duterte inspects high-powered firearms seized from Maute and Abu Sayyaf members. ARMY PHOTO

President Rodrigo Duterte will witness on Wednesday the destruction of more than 600 firearms seized from Maute and Abu Sayyaf terrorists in Marawi City, where government security forces fought the Islamist group for five months.

The demilitarization ceremony of 652 captured, confiscated, surrendered and recovered firearms will be held at the Philippine Army headquarters in Taguig City.

The weapons will be run over by a road roller, then cut by a circular saw, said Army spokesperson Lt. Col. Tiongson.

Some of the firearms include assault and sniper rifles, as well as RPGs (rocket-propelled-grenade) launchers.

Tiongson clarified that the event is only “ceremonial” as the military follows a procedure in weapons disposal.

“Later i-burn yan… Meron pang procedure for disposal,” he said. /cbb