ILOILO CITY (PIA) – Assorted firearms of the New People’s Army (NPA) Terrorists that are now in the hand of the government troop were demilitarized, December 13.
The Army's 3rd Infantry (Spearhead) Division, in partnership with the 6th Forward Service Support Unit (6FSSU), destroyed the captured, confiscated, surrendered, and recovered (CCSR) firearms of the NPA Terrorists through a demilitarization ceremony held at Headquarters, 6FSSU in Camp Martin, Delgado, Iloilo City.
The ceremonial demilitarization of seven assorted firearms was graced by 3 ID commander Major General Benedict Arevalo, a press release from the Division's Public Affairs Office said.
Arevalo and Brigadier Gen. Rogelio Ulanday, Deputy Commander, Army Support Command (ASCOM) and chairperson of Philippine Army Disposal Committee, led the cutting of firearms.
Personnel of the 6FSSU under its commanding officer, Lt. Col. Flordeliza Bolyahon, assisted the in the demilitarization ceremony.
As part of the verification and identification process, 66 CCSR firearms were also inspected during the activity, the media report said.
In his message, Ulanday said "A giant leap towards our quest for peace in any armed struggle, having the strongest peak means having the upper hand and latching once a weapon is like being stripped naked in the battle for a combatant."
For his part, Arevalo said that the demilitarization's essence is to show that there is only one Armed Forces in the country and that is the Armed Forces of the Philippines.
"This activity is being conducted to show to the public the numbers of firearms of CPP NPA Terrorist, which they used in sowing terror in this region. This is also to inform the public that these firearms will never be used again by demilitarizing all of it," he said.
Arevalo added that "With the continuous support of the people in Western and Central Visayas, the 3ID, to include its line units in the ground, will continue to accomplish its mission in accordance to our mandate to contribute and to attain a community conducive for peace and
development, not only in this part of the region but for the whole country as well."
Also in attendance to witness the ceremony were Regional Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict 6 spokesperson Prosecutor Flosemer Chris Gonzales, 3ID Assistant Chief of Staff for Civil Military Operations Lt. Col. Rafman Altre, Assistant Chief of Staff for Logistics Lt. Col. Earl Panganiban, and DPAO Chief Capt. Kim Apitong. (PIA6/Story and photos from DAPO/3ID-PA)
