Camp Navarro, Calarian, Zamboanga City – October 18, 2024
The Western Mindanao Command (WestMinCom), in collaboration with the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU), held the Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW) Management conference at Eisenhower Hall, Khadafy Mansion, WestMinCom Headquarters in Zamboanga City on October 17, 2024. The conference aimed to develop strategic mechanisms to counter the proliferation of loose firearms in the Bangsamoro region.
The event brought together key military and government leaders, including representatives from the 1st Infantry Division (1ID), 6th Infantry Division (6ID), and 11th Infantry Division (11ID), to share updates on their SALW management efforts. Each brigade presented their security situation and outlined key developments in their area of responsibility (AOR) regarding firearm control, as well as the challenges encountered during the program’s implementation. They emphasized the essential roles of Local Government Units (LGUs), stakeholders, and communities in advancing the SALW campaign and fostering long-term peace and development.
An open forum followed the presentations, offering attendees the chance to discuss and clarify crucial points, enriching the overall learning experience for participants.
In his keynote address, Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr., the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation, and Unity, praised WestMinCom and its partner agencies for the significant progress made in SALW management. He acknowledged the collective efforts that have brought positive outcomes for security and peacebuilding in the region.
WestMinCom Commander Lt. Gen. William Gonzales echoed these sentiments, stressing the need for continuous investment in understanding the complex security challenges faced by each Bangsamoro community. “Each community in the Bangsamoro region is characterized by a unique security landscape. We need to persistently invest our efforts in understanding these challenges that impact the proliferation of loose firearms so that we may come up with the best solutions,” said Lt. Gen. Gonzales.
Other notable figures in attendance included Minister Akmad Brahim, Minister for Environment, Natural Resources and Energy; Maj. Gen. Gabriel Viray III of the 1st Infantry Division; Maj. Gen. Antonio Nafarrete of the 6th Infantry Division; Maj. Gen. Leonardo Peña of the 11th Infantry Division and JTF Orion; and Rear Admiral Francisco Tagamolila, Commander of JTF Poseidon and Naval Forces Western Mindanao.
OPAPRU officials present at the event included Mr. Cesar Yano, Chair of the Government of the Philippines Peace Implementing Panel; Mr. David Diciano, Presidential Assistant for Bangsamoro Transformation; Mr. Ariel Hernandez, Chair of the GPH Joint Normalization Committee (JNC); and Retired Lieutenant General Danilo Pamonag, Co-chair of the JTF on Camps Transformation. The event also welcomed peacebuilders, advocates, WestMinCom officers, and the TRIAD staff.
The conference underscored the importance of inter-agency cooperation, community engagement, and sustained efforts to effectively manage SALW in the Bangsamoro region, contributing to the broader goal of lasting peace and security.
