PNP not giving up on recovery of SAF’s missing firearms in Mamasapano

THE Philippine National Police is still coordinating with the Armed Forces of the Philippines to recover the firearms of 44 Special Action Force troopers killed in Mamasapano, Maguindanao.

The PNP officer in charge, Deputy Director General Leonardo Espina, said he has been in constant communication with AFP Chief of Staff Gregorio Pio Catapang Jr. so that the firearms could be returned to the government.

Espina said majority of the firearms of the slain SAF commandos have not been accounted for, more than four months after the SAF’s law enforcement operation to arrest two high profile terrorists.

Of the 63 firearms lost during the January 25 operation, only 16 were turned over to the government last February.

The SAF lost many of its men in an encounter with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters, while the commandos were serving arrest warrants against Zulkifli Bin Hir and Basit Usman.

Bin Hir was killed in that operation but Usman escaped. He was killed by the MILF in an encounter last May.

The MILF leadership has yet to surrender the rest of the unaccounted for firearms and combat equipment of the 44 policemen.

The SAF has earlier said 30 rifles, four squad automatic weapons, 11 M203 grenade launchers, a 90mm recoilless rifle and 10 handguns are still missing.

Also missing are other special equipment such as a sound suppressor, night vision goggles, night fight device and communications equipment. SFM/ABC