Turnover of weapons a ‘good first step’ — AFP
MANILA — Defense and security officials yesterday welcomed the turnover to the Philippine National Police of 16 firearms seized from some of the Special Action Force commandos slain in the January 25 Mamasapano incident, but stressed that the return of the weapons by the Moro Islamic Liberation Front was but a "good first step."
The weapons were formally turned over to acting PNP chief Leonardo Espina by Armed Forces of the Philippines chief of staff General Gregorio Pio Catapang Jr. in Camp Aguinaldo.
Catapang was in Maguindanao Wednesday to receive the firearms and take these to Manila.
He and Espina also described the turnover as a sign that the AFP and PNP remained "one" despite the bitter recriminations that cropped up in the wake of the disastrous SAF mission in Mamasapano, Maguindanao to get Malaysian terrorist Zulkifli bin Hir, alias "Marwan," who is said to have been killed but at the cost of 44 police commandos, 18 MILF fighters and five civilians.
The military, Espina and Interior Secretary Manuel Roxas II, who has executive supervision over the PNP, were kept in the dark about the Mamasapano mission until it was underway. The military has said the lack of coordination had prevented it from immediately coming to the aid of beleaguered SAF units engaged by the MILF and the breakaway Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters.
Asked if he was satisfied at the return of the weapons, Roxas said, "It shouldn't end here," given the number of returned firearms compared to the SAF casualties. Aside from the fatalities, the elite police unit also suffered 15 wounded.