Army raze 50 captured, surrendered firearms
A total of fifty firearms were destroyed following a ceremonial cutting and destruction of guns at the 6th Service Support Unit (FSSU) of the Philippine Army’s Support Command in Camp Delgado, Iloilo City Friday afternoon.
The rites formed part of the demilitarization under the Philippine Army’s Captured, Confiscated, Recovered and Surrendered Firearms (CCRS) program.
The fifty assorted firearms, mostly high-powered “paltik,” were recovered by government troops in its internal security operations (ISO) in the islands of Panay and Negros.
Maj. Gen. Josue S Gaverza of the Philippine Army’s Support Command represented the Philippine Army commanding general Lt. Gen. Delfin Bangit in the ceremony.
In his message, Bangit highlighted the AFP and the Philippine Government’s efforts to dispose of loose firearms and eliminate the chances of these firearms of falling into the hands of lawless elements.
Also in attendance were 3rd Infantry Division commander Maj. Gen. Vicente Porto and ranking officers of Police Regional Office (PRO) VI.
According to Porto, the demilitarization was an offshoot of a concern of the AFP brought by the amassing of Captured, Confiscated, Surrendered and Recovered (CCSR) Firearms at the military supply units and the absence of a definitive policy that prescribes a clear term for the ultimate disposition of CCSR firearms.
“This concern was addressed by the issuance of an AFP-wide directive, AFP Logistics Letter MF-06-13 dated 17 January 2007, that prescribes the procedures in handling and disposing of all types of CCSR firearms. The implementation of this system of monitoring and disposing of CCSR firearms secures and prevents the firearms from falling back into the hands of terrorists, criminals and insurgent groups,” he added.
