DATU ODIN SINSUAT, Maguindanao del Norte — Sixteen barangay chairmen in the municipality of Datu Odin Sinsuat turned over several high-powered firearms to authorities on the morning of February 24, 2026, in a move aimed at strengthening peace and security in the area.
The ceremonial turnover of loose firearms was held at the municipal covered court in Poblacion Dalican and formed part of the government’s intensified campaign against illegal weapons under the Balik Baril Program.
The activity was led by Mayor Baba Abas together with Vice Mayor Datu Bobsteel Sinsuat, Councilor Sorab Lumanggal, and George Bagundol Jr., the provincial director of the Maguindanao del Norte Police Provincial Office. Personnel of the Datu Odin Sinsuat Municipal Police Station also joined the ceremony.
Authorities said the surrendered firearms came from barangays Baka (Datu Pinguiaman), Capiton, Tamontaka, Taviran, Badak, Linek, Mompong, Sapalan, Nekitan, Labungan, Tinunggos, Tambak, Dulangan, Kusiong, Kakar, and Binolen. The barangay leaders voluntarily handed over the weapons in support of ongoing efforts to eliminate loose firearms and prevent their use in crimes and armed violence.
According to local officials, the ceremony marked the second batch of barangays participating in the surrender initiative this year. The first round of turnover activities was conducted earlier in January, as the local government and the Philippine National Police intensified coordination with community leaders to encourage the voluntary surrender of undocumented firearms.
During the program, municipal and police officials emphasized the role of barangay governments in maintaining peace and order at the grassroots level. They said the cooperation of barangay chairpersons demonstrates the growing support of local communities for the campaign against illegal weapons.
Mayor Abas, along with Vice Mayor Sinsuat and other officials present, commended the participating barangay leaders for their commitment to public safety. They noted that reducing the number of loose firearms is crucial in preventing election-related violence, criminal incidents, and armed conflicts in the province.
Also present during the ceremony were Maungangen Mayor Abdulmain Abas and PMAJ Katherin B. Paydoen, officer-in-charge of the Datu Odin Sinsuat Municipal Police Station, who reiterated the police force’s continued partnership with local government units and barangay officials in sustaining peace initiatives.
Officials stressed that the Balik Baril Program remains one of the key strategies of the government to curb the proliferation of loose firearms across communities. By encouraging voluntary surrender and strengthening coordination between authorities and local leaders, the initiative aims to create safer and more stable communities in Maguindanao del Norte.
Local authorities expressed hope that more barangays will follow suit in the coming months as the campaign continues across the municipality and neighboring areas. They also urged residents who may still possess unregistered or undocumented firearms to cooperate with the program and support the collective effort to maintain peace and security in the region.