Military to probe cops for rebels’ AK-47 guns

A MILITARY official directed all his unit commanders to investigate police personnel in Eastern Mindanao, following the recovery of the several high-powered firearms in Bacuag town in Surigao del Norte on June 8.

Eastern Mindanao Command (Eastmincom) commander Lt. General Ricardo Rainier Cruz III issued the order after he noticed that several AK-47 rifles were recovered from the New People’s Army (NPA) members since 2013.

The Eastmincom recorded a total of 45 AK-47 rifles seized from the NPA units operating in Eastern Mindanao. Of 45 rifles, 14 were surrendered by the rebels who availed the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Gun for Peace Program, while the rest were recovered after the encounters of the troops and the rebels.

“His [Lt. General Cruz] order was clear, gusto niyang malaman kung saan galing itong AK-47 rifles or kung sino ang nagsu-supply ng AK-47 sa mga NPA rebels, at kung bakit madalas nakukuha sa NPA ito? Kasi hindi naman gumagamit ng AK-47 ang mga sundalo,” Eastmincom spokesperson Alberto Caber told Sun. Star Davao. Cruz directed the government troops to work with the intelligence community to verify where the rebels got their AK-47, whether it was smuggled in on inbound or seized from some private agencies. He said that some AK-47 was reportedly seized from a security agency in Butuan City. When asked about the Philippine National Police (PNP) members allegedly selling firearms to the NPA, Caber, in behalf of the entire Eastmincom personnel, said they could not agree neither disagree on the issue, as such information is still under investigation.

More than 1,000 firearms were earlier reported missing at the Philippine National Police (PNP) headquarters and discovered in the hands of the NPA rebels in Mindanao. The discovery led to pending filing of charges before the Office of the Ombudsman against 19 police personnel on the alleged selling of firearms.

“We cannot say yes and we cannot say no about the issue. Pero kung totoo man ito, mahihirapan kami,” Caber said.