IDB: MILF decommissioned weapons are genuine

MILF weapons decommissioning (dwdd.gov.ph)

ZAMBOANGA CITY – A member of the Independent Decommissioning Body (IDB) has denied allegations that some of the weapons the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) decommissioned are not genuine guns.

Lt. Gen. (ret.) Rey Ardo issued the statement Saturday after Senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr. alleged that 28 of the 75 decommissioned weapons were homemade.

The weapons were decommissioned last June 16 in a ceremony at the old provincial capitol in Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao which was attended by President Benigno Simeon Aquino III and other top government officials as well as members of the diplomatic community.

Fifty of the 75 decommissioned weapons consisted of high-powered rifles and 25 crew-served weapons–mortars, rocket launchers and caliber .50 machineguns.

In denying the allegation, Ardo said prior to the decommissioning, the MILF submitted to the IDB a list of the 75 crew-serve and high-powered firearms that were to be turned in.

Ardo said the seven-man decommissioning body inspected all 75 weapons prior to the actual ceremonial decommissioning of the guns.

“Based on my experience and competency as a retired general of the AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines), these are the original weapons used by the MILF in their fight with the government,” he said.

He also noted the weapons “were clearly not manufactured for the sake of the ceremonial decommissioning.”

Meanwhile, he said the weapons the MILF turned in last June remain secured under the IDB’s protection.

“Under the watch of the IDB, the decommissioned weapons of the MILF have been placed in secure storage facilities and will remain there until they are finally put beyond use,” Ardo said.

He said the decommissioned weapons are kept under lock and key.

“The weapons will remain where they are in the interim period and there is no danger that they will fall in the hands of lawless elements or will be dealt in the black market,” he added.

The decommissioning process is guided by the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB), the peace accord signed by the Government of the Philippines (GPH) and the MILF in March 2014.

The CAB stipulates that the MILF weaponry will be put beyond use while the combatants will have transition to civilian lives in a gradual and phased process.