CAMP RAFAEL C. RODRIGUEZ, Butuan City – Philippine National Police chief Police Gen. Benjamin Acorda Jr. led the demilitarization of 178 firearms surrendered by New People’s Army (NPA) here on December 26.
The demilitarization of these firearms coincided with the 55th founding anniversary of the Communist Party of the Philippines.

PNP chief Police Gen. Benjamin Acorda Jr. (right) leads the demilitarization of New People’s Army firearms in Camp Rodriguez, Butuan City that coincided with the 55th founding anniversary of the Communist Party of the Philippines on Tuesday. (Mike U. Crismundo)
Acorda said these were composed of 117 long firearms, 36 short firearms, 13 crew-served weapons, and 12 sub-machine guns. Of these, 100 came from the surrenderers in Agusan del Sur, 49 from Surigao del Norte, and 29 from Agusan del Norte.
“This move reflects our success in the aggressive fight against terrorism as we continue to gain grounds, posing their nearest downfall,” the PNP chief said in his message during the activity witnessed by Police Regional Office-13 Director Police Brig. Gen. Kirby John B. Kraft, Donald A. Seronay, assistant regional director of the Department of the Interior and Local Government-13, Bonifacio R. Pulgo, deputy regional director of the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency-13; local officials from Butuan City, Agusan del Norte, and Bayugan City; and Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) officers.
Meanwhile, Acorda said they have intensified its crackdown against cybercrime after several government and private institutions were hacked in the past few weeks.
Acorda ordered all field unit commanders nationwide to boost the cyber security of their offices amid the spate of hacking incidents that started in an insurance agency hit by a ransomware attack.
Another government entity hacked was the Community-Based Monitoring System that contain personal and sensitive information.
Acorda admitted an increase in hacking incidents. “Talagang tumaas,” Acorda said. “Kaya ito ngayon ang ating pinag-ukulan ng pansin,” he added in a press briefing here on Tuesday.