Moro villagers surrender 17 more combat weapons to ArmyLocal officials and Army officials inspect the firearms surrendered by residents of Mamasapano, Maguindanao del Sur on March 26, 2026. The combat weapons were surrendered by two former enemy groups that recently reconciled through the joint efforts of local executives, officials from the Maguindanao del Sur Provincial Police Office, the Army’s 34th and 38th Infantry Battalions, and Brig. Cagara said that Lt. Col. Edgardo Batinay, commanding officer of the 34th Infantry Battalion, and his counterpart in the 38th Infantry Battalion, Lt. Col. Erwin Felongco, were both instrumental in facilitating the voluntary turnover of the combat weapons by Mamasapano residents through backchannel dialogues. These were voluntarily surrendered by owners in recognition of the SALW Management Program. The SALW Management Program is designed to support Malacañang’s peace initiatives with southern Moro communities.

Source: Philippine Star March 27, 2026 09:39 UTC