AFP destroys loose firearms
A total of 168 confiscated firearms were cut into pieces then burned yesterday at the headquarters of the 6th Forward Service Support Unit, Army Support Command in Iloilo City as part of the Armed Forces of the Philippines's (AFP) program on demilitarization of captured firearms.
Major Gen. Jovenal Narcise, commanding general of the Third Infantry Division (3ID), led the destruction of assorted seized firearms which was also graced by the presence of Iloilo Governor Niel Tupas, Sr., Hector Alejano, representing Mayor Jerry Treñas, Senior Supt. Ruperto Floro, representing Police Regional Director Chief Supt. Wilfredo Dulay, Sr., and other officials.
Narcise said the activity aims to show to the public that they don't recycle recovered firearms.
"This is (also) part of the the program of the AFP to limit the proliferation of illegal firearms that may be used by lawless elements for terrorism activities and other criminal activities," Narcise said.
"Take all these loose firearms from them (lawless elements) and our place will become peaceful," he added.
He said the demilitarized firearms were confiscated by the different units under the 3ID since the start of year 2007.
Narcise said the firearms, both high-powered and low-powered, were either captured as a result of the encounter with the insurgents, confiscated from lawless elements or from the members of the Revolutionary Proletarian Army-Alex Boncayao Brigade.
Narcise said they have employed the United Nations (UN) procedure of destroying loose firearms in which the firearms are cut into four pieces then placed into a container for burning.
"This will ensure that the firearms will be totally destroyed and can no longer be re-assembled," said Narcise.
Asked by reporters as to why the firearms were not recycled then given to the police which lack firepower, Narcise said the captured firearms are already old and unreliable.
"Our police counterparts need much better firearms," he said.