MILF returns SAF weapons

MANILA, Philippines (UPDATE 2) — The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) turned over firearms of the Special Action Force commandos slain in an encounter in Mamasapano, Maguindanao.

As vowed by MILF chief negotiator Mohagher Iqbal before the Senate panel last week, the International Monitoring Team and the cease-fire committee composed of members from government and the MILF retrieved 15 rifles from Moro guerillas in Maguindanao.

Nine of these were deposited at Camp Siongco military headquarters in Awang, Maguindanao on Tuesday night.

Government Peace Panel chief negotiator Miriam Coronel-Ferrer said that more firearms were handed to the government on Wednesday morning prior to the ceremony presenting them to the public as a sign of the MILF's goodwill and commitment to the peace process.

"'Yung second batch ay kinolekta na rin ho, at nandito na po ang lahat," Ferrer said in a televised press briefing.

The retrieved weapons include 20 units of M4 carbines, two units of grenade launchers, an FN Minimi machine gun, a cellular phone and various accessories.

Ferrer appealed to civilians and other MILF members to return equipment from the Mamasapano clash.

"Sana po kusang loob na rin na ibalik na po ito, katulad po nung pinakita ng ating sibilyan noong nakaraang araw," she said.

MILF military chief Von Al Haq confirmed that the MILF members recovered the firearms after the encounter with the elite police troopers on January 25. The armed group was earlier accused of selling the weapons for P1.5 million.

PNP officer-in-charge Deputy Director General Leonardo Espina, meanwhile, earlier demanded that the MILF returns firearms and personal belongings of the fallen commandos.

The Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters, meanwhile, had refused to return weapons stolen from the police troopers following the firefight.