Military tracing source of seized AFP firearms
Credit to Author: Tempo Desk| Date: Tue, 18 Dec 2018 09:27:37 +0000
THE MILITARY is investigating the source of these ammunition and firearms seized from gunrunners Edgardo Medel and Rose Marie Medel. Police learned that the couple supplied high-powered firearms and ammunition to the Maute Group, Abu Sayyaf and rouge politicians. (Alvin Kasiban)
THE military is conducting an investigation to trace the source of the government firearms and ammunition recovered by the Philippine National Police (PNP) from the apprehended gunrunners in Valenzuela last Sunday.
Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Public Affairs chief Col. Noel Detoyato said Tuesday said that while they can already confirm that the captured firearms are not in their inventory, “only a thorough inventory of our ammunition stocks will confirm whether there are losses in our stocks that could have fallen to the hands of these gunrunners.”
“We would like to inform the public that the AFP imposes and continuously improves a strict handling and control of its ammunition. Periodic inventory and wall-to-wall counting have been regularly done to account for each and every cartridge,” Detoyato said.
“Unfortunately, there could be unscrupulous individuals in our ranks that could have evaded our system and were able to slip out ammunition from our piles,” he added.
Detoyato said despite what happened in Valenzuela City, the AFP will further enhance its strict firearms and ammunition control measures and will treat the case as a valuable lead to weed out corrupt personnel in their ranks.
“Lastly, erring AFP personnel will be dealt with accordingly with the full force of our military justice system and that the result of our investigation will be brought out to the public at once,” he added.
The PNP also confirmed on Monday noon that it has started to coordinate with the AFP to determine the couple’s source of high-powered firearms and ammunition.
PNP chief Director General Oscar Albayalde said he initiated talks with Gen. Filemon Santos Jr., commanding general of 7th Infantry Division (7ID) of the Philippine Army, as part of their joint investigation.
“I have already coordinated with [General Filemon Santos Jr.] who is my classmate and nakapagkasunduan nga na we will be conducting a joint investigation and they are so much willing to cooperate dito sa gagawing imbestigasyon. Sabi nga natin na this is a serious matter,” Albayalde told reporters in Camp Crame.
In a press conference on Monday, Albayalde said the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) received a tip from a confidential informant that the couple — Edgardo Medel, 46, and his wife Rosemarie, 34, of Daisy Street, Land Ville Subdivision, Barangay Pambuan, Gapan, Nueva Ecija – was supplying bulk of unlicensed firearms and ammunition for a hefty price to Maute terrorists, the Abu Sayyaf Group and rogue politicians.
Elements of NCRPO-Regional Special Operations Unit (RSOU) and Regional Intelligence Division (RID) apprehended the suspects after buying two assault rifles, a handgun, and 12, 893 rounds of live ammunition worth P1.2 million.
The transaction occurred around 6:30 p.m. Sunday at the service station on North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) while the couple was onboard an L300 van (REV 675).
Albayalde said the three minor children of the couple who were inside the vehicle during the buy-bust were turned over to social workers following the arrest of their parents.
The firearms and ammunition presented by Albayalde were stored in two crates showing markings of the Philippine Army (PA).
Albayalde revealed the couple was in contact with a retired AFP soldier who may have been the source of the high-powered firearms and ammunition which they were selling to interest groups.
The PNP chief withheld the identity of the retired soldier.
The suspects were brought to the NCRPO headquarters. (Francis Wakefield, Martin Sadongdong)