The secessionist Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) is still holding at least 40 firearms that belonged to the 44 Special Action Force (SAF) commandos who were killed in a clash with the Muslim rebels in Mamasapano, Maguindanao, early this year.
This was disclosed by a military source who said the Armed Forces of the Philippines has received a report that there were firearms that remained unaccounted for which the MILF has refused to yield to the Philippine National Police.
Of the 63 missing SAF firearms, only 16 have been returned by the MILF. The government has demanded their return to the PNP as a show of sincerity on the part of the MILF in its peace talks with the government.
The same source said the bulk of the unrecovered firearms were with the group of MILF commander Wahid Tundok.
The Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces (BIAF) has claimed having recovered 10 SAF firearms during the encounter and has refused to surrender them.
The source said it was the MILF central committee, which has no control over the BIAF, that is negotiating peace with the government.
Lt. Col. Harold Cabunoc, AFP public affairs chief, said the AFP had indeed received reports that some SAF firearms are still with the MILF but did not give a figure.
“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 CCCH (Coordinating Committee on the Cessation of Hostilities),” Cabunoc said.
Cabunoc said the return of all firearms to the SAF would be a good sincerity test for the MILF.
“They helped us in the neutralization of Basit Usman and our next challenge to them, if they are sincere in the peace process, is to turn over the remaining firearms of the SAF 44,” he said.
Cabunoc said the return of all firearms by the MILF would be a significant step toward achieving peace “because it will show to all those who are doubtful about their intents and purposes as regards to the peace process.”
He noted that there had been no MILF atrocities reported to the AFP since 2011.