Either by firing squad or by hanging, Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Dir. Gen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa said he wanted those supplying guns to the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) dead.
Visibly exasperated, Dela Rosa vowed to execute individuals sending weapons to the enemies.
“Pa-firing squad natin kung sino ‘yang gago na ‘yang gumagawa nito,” he said during a press briefing in Camp Crame.
“Malaking offense ito ‘di ba? You’re giving arms to the enemy. So, death by hanging ba yan, or death by firing squad? How I wish ma-firing squad natin mga responsable dito,” he said.
Dela Rosa presented to media on Tuesday morning Unding Kenneth Isa, the alleged leader of a gunrunning syndicate.
The PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) said it arrested Isa from a house in Barangay West Crame in San Juan City, a stone’s throw away from the PNP headquarters in Camp Crame.
READ: PNP seizes P6M in weapons, ammo intended for Abu Sayyaf
The CIDG said Isa, who ran for Sulu vice governor in May’s elections but lost, was arrested with three others last Saturday.
CIDG director Chief Supt. Roel Obusan said Isa, of Indanan, Sulu, was tight-lipped during interrogation about the source of the firearms.
But Dela Rosa said, “We will not stop until there’s no stone left unturned.”
The operation stemmed from a tip the CIDG received in July that Isa and a certain “Wahid” were supplying guns to Abu Sayyaf bandits and war lords in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. The weapons were reportedly delivered from Manila to Zamboanga, then to Jolo, Sulu, loaded on sports utility vehicles ferried on roll-on roll-off ferries.
In August, Isa, Wahid and unidentified ASG members reportedly went to Manila to buy a cache of M203 grenade launchers and M14 rifles, explosives components, and thousands of ammunition. They were reportedly sent by an unidentified Abu Sayyaf commander. CBB
PNP Chief Ronald Dela Rosa checks the grenade launchers, high-powered guns and thousands of ammo seized from gun running group who reportedly supplies to the Abu Sayyaf Group and war lord in ARMM including politicians during a press briefing in Camp Crame, Quezon City. They were nabbed by the members of the Anti-Transnational Crimes Unit and Criminal Investigation and Detection Group on a Barangay West Came, San Juan City including one of the four suspect Unding Kenneth Isa (man smiling and wearing black behind Bato). INQUIRER / RICHARD A. REYES