AFP steps up crackdown on weapons pilferage
The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said Tuesday that it is investigating reports of alleged pilferage of arms and weapons from the government arsenal.
“We would like to say there is a possibility that there are some misfits in the AFP who might be involved in these unscrupulous acts,” AFP public affairs office chief Col. Edgard Arevalo told reporters on Tuesday.
On Tuesday morning, the Philippine National Police presented P6 million worth of high-powered guns reportedly supplied to the Abu Sayyaf which were seized during a recent operation in San Juan.
Most of the ammunition has been traced to the government arsenal. The firearms were seized from four suspects, alleged suppliers of the Abu Sayyaf and other local terrorists in Mindanao.
Arevalo said that according to Government Arsenal director Jonathan Martir, it was possible that the weapons could have come from them.
Charges will be filed against those who are involved in pilferage from the arsenal. The charges punishable under the Articles of War.
“The Armed Forces is very keen, very seriously looking into this sapagkat hindi ito maliit na offense… So ngayon ang ginagawa ng ating Armed Forces ay patuloy pa rin tayo nangangalap ng impormasyon, iniimbestigahan ang mga report na nakarating sa atin,” Arevalo said.
(The Armed Forces is very keen, very seriously looking into this because this isn’t a small offense… So now, our Armed Forces is continuously gathering information and investigating reports that we receive.)
Just last week, two soldiers were arrested for illegally selling arms and ammunition, Arevalo added.
The two soldiers were Technical Sergeant Santiago Caasi of the Mechanized Infantry Division’s 1st Cavalry Squadron in Zamboanga del Sur and Sergeant Jeffrey Ordona of the 10th Infantry Division in Compostela Valley.
Both soldiers are facing general court martial proceedings for violation of Articles of War 85 or “waste and unlawful disposition of military property.” If found guilty, they will be dishonorably discharged from service. JE/rga
