Philippines Small Arms Diversion

Another image from Mindanao Voices Facebook page. Source: www.facebook.com/permalink.ph...

Hard to make out, but images posted by the Radyo Natin FM - DXTC 95.9 Cotabato City Facebook page showed some craft RPG-2 launchers, M1 Garand rifles, an M79, an AR-pattern rifle, craft rifles, handguns, and shotguns.

The event was part of the small arms and light weapons (SALW) program.

Source: www.facebook.com/permalink.ph...

2025.03.21.001

Residents of SGA BARMM surrendered three RPGs, one KG-9 smg, one M4 assault rifle, two grenade launchers, one M14, 12 M1 Garands, seven craft rifles, three shotguns, and eight handguns to 6ID in Brgy Salunayan, Midsayap, North Cotabato on March 21, the unit reported on Facebook.

Additional image posted by journalist John Unson on Facebook.

Source: www.facebook.com/jf.starman.u...

Images posted by the DXMY 90.9 Cotabato Facebook page showed one Ultimax 100 lmg, one interesting AR (maybe an HK416?), two M16A1s, another AR, a bunch of M1 and M14 rifles, and some craft rifles/shotguns.

Source: www.facebook.com/dxmy729/post...

The event was part of the small arms and light weapons (SALW) program.

Source: www.facebook.com/permalink.ph...

2025.03.20.001

Not clear. Civilians surrendered five M1 Garands, five "converted" M14s, two Mossin Nagants, two shotugns, one craft rifle, one M16A1, and one M4 rifle to 33IB in Brgy Zapakan, Radjah Buayan, Maguindanao del Sur on March 20, the unit reported on Facebook.

Images showed the M79, M1 Garands, and one craft mortar.

601st Infantry Unifier Brigade 4 𝚗𝚊 𝙼𝚊𝚝𝚊𝚝𝚊𝚜 𝚗𝚊 𝙰𝚛𝚖𝚊𝚜 𝚜𝚊 𝙼𝚊𝚐𝚞𝚒𝚗𝚍𝚊𝚗𝚊𝚘 𝚍𝚎𝚕 𝚂𝚞𝚛, 𝙸𝚜𝚒𝚗𝚞𝚔𝚘 𝚜𝚊 𝙼𝚒𝚕𝚒𝚝𝚊𝚛, 𝙺𝚊𝚖𝚙𝚊𝚗𝚢𝚊 𝚜𝚊 𝚂𝚖𝚊𝚕𝚕 𝙰𝚛𝚖𝚜 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝙻𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚝 𝚆𝚎𝚊𝚙𝚘𝚗, 𝙽𝚊𝚐𝚙𝚊𝚙𝚊𝚝𝚞𝚕𝚘𝚢 Tingnan | Marso 19, 2025, Headquarters 601st Infantry (UNIFIER) Brigade, 6ID,.....

The surrender was part of the small arms and light weapons (SALW) program.

Source: www.facebook.com/sixzeroone60...

2025.03.19.001

Residents of Datu Salibo, Maguindanao del Sur surrendered one M79 grenade launcher, one 60mm mortar, and two M1 Garand rifles to the 601st Infantry Brigade on March 19, the unit reported on Facebook. The surrender was part of the small arms and light weapons (SALW) program.

Images showed MNLF fighters with their weapons, including two M60 light machine guns, M16A1s, M14s, M653s, a milled AK, M203 grenade launchers, and craft rifles.

DXMY 90.9 Cotabato MNLF Misuari Wing ginunita ang 'Shuhada Day' kasabay ng ika-57 anibersaryo! Muling nagkita ang mga miyembro ng Moro National Liberation Front o MNLF sa liderato ni Founding Chairman Prof. Nur...

MNLF fighters held a ceremony marking the 57th anniversary of the armed group in Brgy Lower Salbu, Datu Saudi Ampatuan, Maguindanao del Sur, on March 18, the DXMY 90.9 Cotabato Facebook page reported.

Source: www.facebook.com/dxmy729/post...

Notre Dame Broadcasting Corporation Facebook page reported that locals said the dead were civilians, not militants. Images of the weapons showed two M16A1 assault rifles, one M203 grenade launcher, two pistols, 17 40mm HEDP grenades, mags, and ammo.

Source: www.facebook.com/permalink.ph...

Marines killed four militants.

Source: www.facebook.com/permalink.ph...

2025.03.17.002

Marine Battalion Landing Team 2 seized two M16 assault rifles, one M203 grenade launcher, two pistols, ammo, magazines, and IEDs following a clash with DI/ISEAP militants in Sitio Palao, Brgy Barira, Barira, Maguindao del Norte on March 17, the unit reported on Facebook.

6th Infantry Division posted additional images on Facebook.

Source: www.facebook.com/permalink.ph...

Images showed one M16A1 assault rifle, one M653 assault rifle, and four kitted-out M14 rifles.

90th Infantry Bigkis Lahi Battalion “MGA MATATAAS NA KALIBRE NG ARMAS, PAMPASABOG AT MGA GAMIT PANDIGMA NAKOMPISKA, MGA MYEMBRO NG TERORISTANG GRUPO NA-NEUTRALISA SA OPERASYON NG KASUNDALUHAN SA BAYAN NG AMPATUAN, MAGUINDANAO DEL SUR”.....

2025.03.17.001

90th Infantry Battalion seized one M16, one M653, and four M14 rifles following a clash with with DI/ISEAP militants in Brgy Kapinpilan, Ampatuan, Maguindanao del Sur on March 17, the unit reported on Facebook. Troops detained two militants.

Source: www.facebook.com/90IBBigkisLa...

Grenade thrown in Abra mayoral bet’s house BAGUIO CITY — Police are trying to identify the people behind the possible throwing of a grenade Wednesday in front of the residence of a mayoral bet in one of

Assailants threw a Mk2 hand grenade at a residence in Brgy Naguirayan, Pidigan, Abra on March 19, the Daily Tribune reported. The grenade failed to detonate. The owner of the residence is a candidate in upcoming municipal elections.

Source: tribune.net.ph/2025/03/19/g...

PNP upgrades gun licensing system Following a cyber attack in May last year, the firearm licensing system of the Philippine National Police (PNP) has been strengthened into an advanced and fortified platform.

PNP upgrades its licensing system's cybersecurity after a significant hack several months ago. Upgrades include anti-malware protection, web monitoring, activity tracking, device control, firewalls, intrusion prevention and two-factor authentication.

Source: qa.philstar.com/nation/2025/...

4 soldiers wounded in grenade attack in Maguindanao — AFP Sixth Infantry Division spokesperson Roden Orbon said that four of its personnel were wounded by the grenade attack carried out by unknown armed groups.

The attack was apparently carried out by 'local terrorist groups' in retaliation over the recent surrender of their former comrades, according to Philippine Star, citing a military spox.

Source: qa.philstar.com/nation/2025/...

4 soldiers hurt as grenade thrown at Army detachment in Maguindanao del Sur Four soldiers were badly hurt in a grenade attack at a Philippine Army (PA) detachment in Datu Saudi Ampatuan, Maguindanao del Sur on Saturday night, March 15. 

Assailants on a motorbike threw a grenade at an army detachment in Brgy Madia, Datu Saudi Ampatuan, Maguindanao del Sur on March 15, per Manila Bulletin. The blast injured four soldiers.

Source: mb.com.ph/2025/3/16/4-...

‘Controlled detonation’ done with fighter jet wreckage, ordnance MANILA – The Philippine Air Force (PAF) on Tuesday said the parts of the wrecked FA-50PH fighter jet and the ordnance it carried underwent “controlled detonation”. "Controlled detonation of the parts ...

Two pilots died in the crash, per PNA.

Source: www.pna.gov.ph/articles/124...

Crashed fighter jet’s ammunition detonated The military has subjected to controlled detonation the unused ammunition, explosives and certain parts of the FA-50 fighter jet that crashed in Bukidnon.

UEM/stockpile safety incident. Troops destroyed unexploded aircraft munitions at the crash site of a FA-50 fighter jet near Mt. Kalatungan, Bukidnon, the Philippine Star reported on March 12.

Source: www.philstar.com/nation/2025/...

Other forms of smuggling, including arms trafficking, likely follows this or a similar route.

What interests me is their route to Cambodia. First they flew to Dipolog City, Zamboanga del Norte, then took a ferry to Basilan, and then Tawi-Tawi. From there, they used small boats to arrive in Sabah, Malaysia, before flying to Phnom Penh.

When they got there, they only received US$300/month. They were forbidden from leaving the compound. They were given cellphones and were instructed to scam elderly foreigners over social media apps. Their Chinese handlers beat them when they attempted to leave.

The victims were promised jobs at a Cambodian casino. A Filipino HR rep told them their travel expenses would be covered. They were promised a US$1000/month salary.

National Bureau of Investigation 𝗣𝗥𝗘𝗦𝗦 𝗥𝗘𝗟𝗘𝗔𝗦𝗘 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵 𝟭𝟳, 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱 On 11 March 2025, the National Bureau of Investigation received a video message and several photographs of three Filipino nationals who claimed to be in Cambodia and...

Not SALW-related, but interesting account of maritime trafficking routes connecting Mindanao with mainland Southeast Asia. This case involved three Philippine nationals who were tricked into working at a Chinese-run scam center in Cambodia.

Source: www.facebook.com/NationalBure...