ABSCBN SOCSKSARGEN Crew Attend Firearms Familiarization, Handling, and Safety Session

ABS-CBN SOCKSARGEN news anchor, reporters, and crew visited the grounds of 73rd Infantry NEUTRALIZER Battalion at Sitio Tampuan, Barangay Kamanga, Maasim, Sarangani Province on May 22, 2010 and attended a one-day event that oriented them on the different firearms in the inventory of an Army infantry battalion. 

Aside from the visual orientation of static displays, they were also given the chance to fire some of the infantry weapons after a brief lecture on gun handling and safety. 

Guns fired include the popular Cal .45 pistol; M16 rifle, and the latest addition to Philippine Army weaponry - the K3 Squad Automatic Weapon (SAW) light machine gun.

One of the highlights of the event was the team relay competition. The crew were organized into two teams, with each team tasked to hit seven balloon targets at a distance of 10 meters for Cal. .45 pistol and 25 meters for M16 rifle.

The firing was followed by a boodlefight, a Philippine military tradition  of "friendship meal", composed of steamed rice, pansit bihon, bulanglang, and lechon! The "boodles" were annihilated and totally wiped out!

The Battalion Commander then briefed the crew on the prevailing national and local security situations and how 73rd IB addresses the threats in partnership with LGUs, NGOs, and other stakeholders like the tri-media.

The event was capped by the distribution of certificates to the participants, followed  by the awarding ceremony for the team winner and Individual Top Gun awards for the highest pointers in pistol and rifle. As an added fun, a "Bolo Man Award" was given to the individual participant with the least number of hits to challenge "her" to do better next time.