Muntinlupa City Rep. Rodolfo Biazon laughed off allegations
that the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) has been assembling firearms in
its own weapons manufacturing factory in the mountains of Mindanao .
Biazon expressed disbelief over the claim of Sen. Ferdinand
Marcos Jr. on the existence of the alleged MILF weapons factory, pointing out
that even the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), which has the legal status
and funding to produce weapons, could not do it.
“That is very difficult to believe. Why? [Because] even our
own arsenal cannot produce their weapons, especially sophisticated weapons.
Puwede silang mag-manufacture niyan pero iyong pugakang (crude shotgun),” said
Biazon, a former Marine general and former Armed Forces chief before becoming a
senator for three terms.
He added: “If the Armed Forces have to buy their firearms
and ammunition, how can the MILF produce something that our own arsenals
cannot?”
On Thursday, Marcos insisted that a substitute Bangsamoro
Basic Law (BBL) is necessary to strengthen the decommissioning of MILF arms and
weapons, which he alleged were made locally in the Moro group’s weapons
manufacturing factory.
But Biazon said that for practical reasons, he could not
agree with Marcos, who is chair of the Senate Committee on Local Governments
that is tackling the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law.
“I don’t know, maybe Senator Marcos is receiving information
from someone. But to me, my position on the manufacturing of weapons is simply
practicality. If your arsenal cannot produce the weapon, how can the MILF
produce it?” he stressed.
The MILF on June 16 turned over some 75 high-powered and
crew-serve weapons and decommissioned 145 of its combatants to the Independent
Decommissioning Body (IDB) as concrete proof of their sincerity to end conflict
and bring lasting peace in Mindanao .
At the same time, Biazon said he would ask Rep. Rufus
Rodriguez, chairman of the adhoc committee on the Bangsamoro Basic Law of the
House of Representatives, to allow discussions on issues that need to be
explained further about the proposed law when Congress resumes sessions on July
27.
“I think this debate is important to be followed by media so
that the issues can be explained to the people. Ano bang pinag-uusapan diyan
kasi ang problema sa debate na iyan may kani-kaniyang posisyon diyan. And these
differing positions need to be developed into a consensus so that a law can be
passed,” he explained.
The HOR will continue its plenary deliberations on the BBL,
a priority agenda of the Aquino administration, when Congress resumes session
on July 27.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=781837
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