Duterte leads destruction of Maute weapons today

MANILA, Philippines — President Duterte will lead the destruction today of high-powered firearms seized by government forces from Maute terrorists during the five-month fighting in Marawi City.

Lt. Col. Ray Tiongson, spokesman for the Army, said the destruction would be held at Fort Bonifacio in Taguig at around 2 p.m.

Tiongson said the weapons, including machine guns, rocket-propelled grenades and sniper and assault rifles would be crushed by a road roller.

“We will destroy the firearms before burning them. The metal residue will be disposed off properly,” he said.

Government troops recovered more than 800 firearms from the Islamic State-inspired Maute terrorists. 

Tiongson said 652 firearms have been processed while the rest are undergoing examination prior to their disposal.