MIDSAYAP, North Cotabato: A total of 97 loose firearms were surrendered by members and supporters of the New People's Army and Dawlah Islamiyah to authorities in Maitum, Sarangani province in the past three months, a regional Army official said on Thursday.

The firearms were collected by the 603rd Brigade and 38th Infantry Battalion (IB).

Col. Eduardo Gubat, commanding officer of the 603rd Brigade, disclosed that they collected 94 homemade shotguns with ammunition, two M79 grenade launchers and one homemade pistol.

'These loose firearms came from various personalities wherein some of them [were] believed to be members of Militiang Bayan under Platoon West Musa of [the] far south Mindanao Region,' Gubat explained.

'The confiscated firearms were the results of the community support program and the sustained-focus, military operations, conducted by the 'We Clear Troops' since June 9, 2021 in the [villages] of Zion, Batian, Upo and New La Union, all of Maitum, Sarangani,' said Lt. Col. Anhouvic Atilano, commanding officer of the 38th IB.

Atilano added that the surrender of loose firearms was a clear manifestation that the communist terrorist group was weakening in Sarangani Province as authorities continued to pursue the remnants of the communist terrorists in the region.

Maj. Gen. Juvymax Uy, commander of the 6th Infantry Division and Joint Task Force Central, applauded the efforts of the Army in continuously protecting the residents of Sarangani Province and creating an environment that was conducive for sustainable development and lasting peace.

'Every loose firearm surrendered [paves] the way to save innocent lives and to secure a better future for the next generations,' Uy said.