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John Unson - Philstar.com
December 20, 2025 | 5:49pm
The firearms and explosives surrendered by residents of Bagumbayan, Sultan Kudarat on Friday, Dec. 19, 2025, are now in the joint custody of the Army's 7th Infantry Battalion and 603rd Infantry Brigade.
Philstar.com / John Unson
COTABATO CITY, Philippines — Villagers in upland agricultural enclaves in Bagumbayan town in Sultan Kudarat surrendered 38 firearms and 10 fragmentation grenades to an Army unit on Friday, December 19, in support of a regional military disarmament campaign.
The cache, comprised of 11 combat rifles, shotguns, 9 millimeter machine pistols, .38 caliber revolvers, .45 caliber pistols, nine fragmentation grenades and a rifle-propelled grenade, were turned over by owners to officials of the 7th Infantry Battalion in support of the Small Arms and Light Weapons Management Program of the 6th Infantry Division and the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity.
Major Gen. Jose Vladimir Cagara, commander of 6th ID, said the undocumented firearms and fragmentation grenades were surrendered by owners to Army officials during a simple rite at the headquarters of the 7th IB in Barangay Kapaya in Bagumbayan, a hinterland town in Sultan Kudarat province in Region 12, in the presence of local executives and representatives from the municipal police force.
Cagara said the firearms and explosives were turned over by owners to the 7th IB through the joint intercession of its commanding officer, Lt. Col. Lt. Col. Tristan Rey Vallescas, Brig. Gen. Michael Santos, commander of the 603rd Infantry Brigade, municipal and barangay officials in Bagumbayan.
“We appreciate the gesture of the owners of the firearms and grenades. It was a tacit proof of their support for the multi-sector Small Arms and Light Weapons Management Program that we are implementing in provinces and cities in Central Mindanao that are under our jurisdiction,” Cagara said.
Units of the 6th ID in the provinces of Maguindanao del Sur, Maguindanao del Norte, Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, South Cotabato and Sarangani have collected 2,015 assault rifles, assorted pistols and revolvers M60, .30 and .50 caliber machineguns, B40 anti-tank rocket and 40 millimeter grenade launchers, 60 and 81 millimeter mortars voluntarily turned in by keepers since the 6th ID and the OPAPRU started implementing the SALW Program in Central Mindanao in July 2024.
