AFP destroys firearms seized from armed groups

By Ronron
March 22, 2007

Defense Secretary Hermogenes Ebdane, Jr. led on Thursday the ceremonial disposal of confiscated, captured, surrendered or recovered firearms from groups regarded as enemies of the government.

About 1,600 firearms of assorted types were presented to Ebdane during the celebration of the Philippine Army’s 110th anniversary at Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City, which was also participated by Armed Forces chief of staff Gen. Hermogenes Esperon, Jr. and Philippine Army chief Lt. Gen. Romeo Tolentino.

But not all will be destroyed since some may still be classified as standard firearms that may be re-issued to the AFP and the PNP.

Army spokesman Maj. Ernesto Torres, Jr. said the firearms displayed Thursday are part of the 53,805 overall assorted firearms now in the inventory of the AFP.

The said firearms were seized by government forces through the years from communist rebels, the Abu Sayyaf Group, and other threat groups.

“Regardless of the nature of their recovery, these firearms are testaments of the Philippine Army’s success stories in combat, intelligence and civil military operations,” Torres said.

“These enemy firearms are among the tangible results of the successful operations of the Army in defeating the enemy in line with the pronouncements of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to finish the insurgency by 2010,” he added.

Torres said proper disposal of said firearms is mandated by the AFP leadership to prevent them from going back to the hands of “terrorists, criminals, and insurgent groups, thus prevent the proliferation of loose firearms.”

The demilitarization of the firearms begins with cutting them into several pieces, followed by burning the cut pieces.

The Army leadership estimates that about 40,000 of the 53,805 firearms will be due for destruction since they are no longer serviceable.

“Residues or metal scraps (from those destroyed) will be disposed of thru public auction and the proceeds of the residues will form part of the trust fund to support the AFP Modernization Program,” Torres said.

On the other hand, “those found serviceable will be integrated back to the supply line of either the AFP and the PNP, ready for re-issuance after functional test,” he said.

“While all firearms used as evidence in any pending case will be kept by the Forward Service Support Units for appropriate court orders are evidence,” he added.

Among those destroyed by Ebdane, Esperon and Tolentino were an M16, M79, and AK 47.

“The destruction of these firearms signals the destruction of enemy armed components and the shift of focus in creating an environment conducive to national peace and development,” Torres said.

Thursday’s event institutionalized the disposal process that were previously done in different supply units of the AFP all over the country.

Torres said starting this year, the disposal of said firearms will be done every March and December in the different area commands and at Camp Aguinaldo./DMS