SULU, Philippines — A series of coordinated community engagements by government troops, local officials, and stakeholders led to the voluntary surrender of 12 assorted firearms across the island municipalities of Banguingui and Pandami from April 23 to 27, 2026—marking another step forward in the campaign to establish “Rido-Free, Gun-Free, and Peace-Centered Communities” in Sulu’s 2nd District.
Military reports disclosed that the firearms were turned over during intensified Information and Education Campaigns (IEC), reflecting increasing public cooperation with security forces and local authorities.
In Banguingui, Lt. Col. Dante Mantes, commanding officer of the 101st Infantry “Sajahitra” Battalion, said the successful surrenders were facilitated by Charlie Company troops under 1st Lt. Jesson C. Peñaflor. Among the firearms voluntarily handed over were an M16A1 rifle in Barangay Luuk Poblacion; two M1 Garand rifles in Barangays Tabialan and Bangalaw; an M1 Carbine with 11 rounds of ammunition in Barangay Bakaan; two .357 Magnum revolvers and .38 caliber ammunition in Barangay North Paarul; a .357 Magnum revolver and an M1911 A1 pistol in Barangay South Paarul; and another M1 Garand rifle in Barangay Sigumbal.
The turnover activities were conducted with the active participation of barangay officials, representatives of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), and partner agencies—highlighting a multi-sectoral approach to peacebuilding.
Meanwhile, in neighboring Pandami, Lt. Col. Roy Dalumpines, commander of the 104th Infantry “Para sa Bayan” Battalion, reported the surrender of two additional low-powered firearms during barangay declarations of peace. A .38 caliber revolver with five rounds of ammunition was turned over in Barangay Siganggang on April 23, followed by a .45 caliber pistol with a tampered serial number in Barangay Suba-Suba on April 27.
Mantes emphasized that the voluntary surrender of weapons signals a growing level of trust between communities and security forces, attributing the development to sustained grassroots engagement and inclusive peace initiatives.
Dalumpines echoed this sentiment, noting that integrating firearm surrender into formal peace declarations demonstrates a deeper commitment among residents to abandon long-standing clan feuds, locally known as “rido,” and to resolve conflicts through lawful and peaceful means.
Brig. Gen. Alaric Avelino Delos Santos, commander of the 1102nd Infantry “Ganarul” Brigade, commended troops and community partners for their unified efforts. He described the steady turnover of loose firearms as a clear indicator that communities in Sulu’s 2nd District are transitioning toward stability, security, and responsible gun ownership.
Since the start of the year, troops under the brigade have recovered a total of 140 high- and low-powered firearms, significantly reducing the number of unregistered weapons in circulation and strengthening the government’s peace and security campaign in the province.
Military officials reaffirmed their commitment to sustain intensified community engagements, expand partnerships with local government units, and strengthen peacebuilding programs to ensure that all municipalities in the district achieve and maintain a gun-free and conflict-resilient environment.