Community leaders in Southern Highlands Province have voluntarily surrendered factory-made firearms under the government’s illegal firearms amnesty program, in what police say is the second such handover since the initiative began.
According to a media statement released on Thursday, Commander of the Upper Highlands Special Operations, Anthony Wagambie Jr. officiated the handover in Lower Mendi on Wednesday, May 27.
The firearms were surrendered by Robert Peandi of Buiyebi one and Dornald Warea of Tutam Village, accompanied by ward councillors Effo Wami and Pisa Jack. Southern Highlands police officers and members of the public witnessed the event.
Commander Wagambie said the surrender was a community-led initiative and followed a similar voluntary handover last month by local businessman Lowa Magola in Wabag shortly after the amnesty was launched.
Speaking on behalf of the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary, Wagambie said his attendance at the event was a one-off awareness engagement aimed at supporting local community efforts.
“The Upper Highlands Special Operations team was deployed by the Commissioner of Police in response to escalating lawlessness in the region,” Wagambie stated.
He said the unit’s mandate is to enforce the recently enacted Counter-Terrorism Act and support divisional and provincial police commanders, including Divisional Commander Joseph Tondop, rather than replace local policing operations.
According to Wagambie, the legislation allows police to target not only individuals allegedly possessing illegal firearms, but also those accused of sponsoring or encouraging criminal acts such as attacks on vital infrastructure, roadblocks, and power lines.
“Our deployment is not intended to harm people. We are here to assist local police to restore law and order and to support the community,” he said.
Wagambie also warned that police would continue compiling intelligence on suspected illegal firearm holders using information supplied by the public. He urged individuals and groups to surrender weapons voluntarily before enforcement operations begin.
Police have also released a public hotline for information relating to illegal factory-made firearms in Southern Highlands Province. Authorities stated that calls and WhatsApp messages can be sent confidentially to 71388399.
He said the Southern Highlands Provincial Executive Council recently endorsed an illegal firearms amnesty awareness campaign, with future awareness and surrender activities to be led by the provincial administration and local police.
Wagambie confirmed his involvement in the initiative would be limited to the current awareness engagement.
