THIRTEEN village chieftains in Cotabato province surrendered 27 loose firearms to authorities to prevent violence from taking place during the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) in October. The loose firearms were turned over by the barangay chairmen of the 13 Special Geographic Area villages of Midsayap and two SGA barangays of Aleosan, both of North Cotabato, recently.Midsayap, North Cotabato Mayor Rolando Sacdalan and Councilor Antonio Bayya witnessed the handing of the firearms to Brig. Gen. Donald Gumiran, commander of the Army's 602nd Infantry Brigade.

Philippine Army chief and concurrent commander of the Western Mindanao Command Lt. Gen. Roy Galido said the relentless military campaign was part of operations to prevent violence election-related crime.