The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) has yet to return the rest of the firearms and combat gear of the 44 members of the Special Action Force (SAF) killed in clashes in Mamasapano, Maguindanao, in January.
“We have received reports that some of the firearms are still with the MILF but we would refer this to the peace panel, to the [Committee on the Cessation of Hostilities] to determine the veracity of the report,” Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) public affairs office chief Lt. Col. Harold Cabunoc said on Wednesday.
He urged the MILF to return the rest of the firearms to show their “sincerity” to the peace process.
“They helped us in the neutralization of Basit Usman. Our next challenge to them, if they are sincere to the peace process, is to turn over the remaining arms of the SAF,” Cabunoc said.
SAF officials said there were 63 firearms lost during the botched Mamasapano operation. The raid aimed to arrest Malaysian bomb maker Zulkifli bin Hir alias Marwan and his cohort Usman.
The police commandos figured with MILF and Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters.
In February, 16 firearms were turned over to the government.
A military source said some of the firearms were still with BIFF, the breakaway group of the MILF which was against the peace process.
“They said they have more or less 10 (firearms) they got when they crossed the river,” the source said. RC