P6M worth of high-powered firearms for Abu Sayyaf seized in San Juan

Police have seized P6 million worth of high-powered firearms intended for the Abu Sayyaf Group.

Philippine National Police chief Director General Ronald dela Rosa presented the firearms to the media at Camp Crame on Tuesday morning.

Dela Rosa said the firearms and hundreds of ammunition were bought by Abu Sayyaf members who have been in Metro Manila since August.

He said the firearms were seized from four suspects by Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) operatives in Barangay West Crame, San Juan City last September 24.

The suspects were identified as Unding Kenneth Isa, Hja Risdimona Isa, Aljamer Akarab Mandih and Hurbin Alhi Sahibul.

Kenneth’s three companions were released for lack of evidence and since he was the sole subject of the search warrant.

The seized firearms include M203 grenade launchers, M14 and M16 rifles.

“Isa's group and some ASG members [have been] in Manila since August 2016 to buy a cache of guns, explosive components, and ammunition upon orders of unidentified ASG commander,” Dela Rosa said, adding the firearms and ammunition may be used against government forces and terror operations.

“The contraband will be used in the alleged against strengthening of the ASG's armaments in their fight against government forces in Sulu and Basilan as well as the intensification of their kidnapping and bombing operations,” he said.

Dela Rosa said most of the seized ammunition came from the government's arsenal, while the serial numbers of the firearms are being traced if it came from the same origin.

“Most of the ammunition are traced back to the government arsenal. All others are being traced back kung saan ito nanggaling but most of the ammunition are coming from the government arsenal,” the PNP chief said.

Dela Rosa did not discount the possibility that either the smugglers or the ASG had a contact within the government who may be an inducer or a stock houseman.

He said the firearms were supposed to be smuggled out of Manila to Mindanao via ro-ro (roll-on/roll-off vessel).

Dela Rosa added ASG members can easily travel to Manila by just wearing civilian clothes and return to Mindanao, although he stressed there is no confirmed ASG presence thus far.

“Posibleng makakarating sila dito, but I’m not really confirming their presence here,” he said.

‘Buo ang loob’

Meanwhile, CIDG acting director Chief Supt. Roel Obusan said they are still investigating to whom Kenneth supplies the firearms and ammunition since the suspect did not spill any information during interrogation.

“Noong undergoing siya ng tactical interrogation, talagang buo ang loob [na] ayaw niya masalita talaga. We do it technically. We do not do it brutally. Ongoing ang investigation and we will follow up leads kung sino-sino yung nabigyan,” he said.

Obusan also mentioned that Kenneth may be fearing for his family members since most of them reside in Indanan, Sulu.

Dela Rosa even said in jest that he would have gunrunning syndicates hanged or executed by gun fire if proven guilty.

“Papa-firing squad natin yung gago na gumagawa nito. Malaking offense ito na you are giving arms to the enemy. Death by hanging ba yan?,” he said before smiling to the press.

“How I wish ma-firing squad natin yung mga responsible dito,” Dela Rosa added.

Guns for Abu Sayyaf, warlords 

Meanwhile in a press statement, Obusan said that sometime in July 2016, they received information that Isa and a certain “Wahid,” both natives of Indanan, Sulu in Mindanao, were reported to be enaged in gunrunning activities for a group that supplies firearms to Abu Sayyaf bandits and warlords in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

Obusan said the group delivers the firearms from Manila to Zamboanga and then to Jolo, Sulu using SUVs.

For his part, Chief Insp. Roque Merdegia, acting CIDG-Anti-Transnational Crimes Unit head,  said the illegal activities of th group intensified before the 2016 elections when Isa reportedly aspired to become Sulu vice governor, but lost.

The CIDG statement also said that another information received by them showed that sometime in August,  Isa and Wahid, together with unidentified Abu Sayyaf members, were in Manila reportedly "to buy a cache of M203 and M14 firearms, explosives components and thousands of ammunition upon the orders of an unidentified Abu Sayyaf commander."

"Allegedly, the ASG is now strengthening their armaments to fight head on with government forces in Sulu and Basilan, and to intensify their kidnapping and bombing operations," the CIDG statement said. 

Possible misfits within AFP

Meanwhile, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP)  Public Affairs chief Colonel Edgard Arevalo did not discount the possible presence of soldiers within their ranks involved in gun smuggling.

"There is a possibility that there are some misfits in the Armed Forces of the Philippines who might be involved sa ganitong unscrupulous acts. Meron kaming reports na nagsasabi na meron ilan sa ating sundalo ang posibleng involved sa ganyang klaseng activity," Arevalo said.

He mentioned two soldiers set to face a general court martial for alleged unscrupulous activities: Technical Satgeant Santiago Caasi of the Mechanized Infantry Division in Basilan, and Staff Sargeant Jeffrey Ordonio of the 10th Infantry Division in Compostela Valley.

Arevalo stressed the AFP does not take lightly gun smuggling from within their ranks.

"Hindi ito maliit na offense, ito ay isang malaking offense sa hindi lamang sa umiiral na batas, hindi lamang sa ilalim ng articles of war, kundi maging isang malaking kasalanan sa ating mga kasamahan sa Armed Forces na ang mga armas at ammunition ay posibleng naiibenta sa mga civilian at posibleng even sa ating mga kaaway," he said.

The military official said all information on the alleged gun smuggling of government arsenal are under investigation and prevent the spread of misfits.

"Hindi natin hahayaan na dumami at agad nating susupilin ang ganitong maling gawain," Arevalo said. — with a report from Glen Juego/ALG/RSJ/VVP, GMA News