UPI, Maguindanao del Norte — In a gesture of support for peace and stability in the Bangsamoro region, several residents of Upi voluntarily surrendered six loose firearms to the Joint Peace and Security Team (JPST) in Barangay Ganasi.
The turnover was facilitated by the Joint Peace and Security Committee (JPSC) and the JPST Operations Center (OPCEN), and the surrendered firearms were formally placed under the custody of the 57th Infantry Battalion, led by Lt. Col. Aeron Lumabao. The firearms will be processed in accordance with the Small Arms and Light Weapons Management (SALW-M) Program.
Presidential Peace Adviser Carlito Galvez Jr. underscored the significance of the initiative, especially as the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) prepares for its first-ever parliamentary elections. He stressed that disarmament programs such as SALW-M are “vital to ensuring peaceful and credible elections” in the region.
Authorities said the voluntary surrender highlights the community’s commitment to fostering peace, reducing armed violence, and strengthening trust between civilians and security forces in BARMM.