Manila, Jan. 29 -- Officials and candidates in Maguindanao del Sur surrendered 21 high-powered firearms to the military during a forum at the headquarters of Army's 90th Infantry Battalion in Datu Saudi Ampatuan town on Tuesday.

Col. Edgar Catu, commander of the Army's 601st Infantry Brigade, welcomed the surrender of the unlicensed guns.

"It is a good gesture worth emulating," Catu said Wednesday.

The Army organized the forum and a peace covenant signing to help ensure peaceful elections in May.

Mayors, board members, and candidates from several towns presented firearms to Catu and other military officials.

"This is huge in our desire to have peaceful elections," Catu said, adding that he hoped more people would surrender unlicensed...