Maj. Gen. Edmundo Pangilinan, Commander of the 6th Infantry Division based in Maguindanao, the province where the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) has denied the existence of an MILF arms manufacturing in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) and Central Mindanao.
He said that they have repeatedly verified reports about MILF arms factories and they have not found any proof of the claim.
“Our ground forces have already verified such claims. There is no truth to such allegations,” Pangilinan said.
Gen. Pangilinan’s statement came in the light of Sen. Ferdinand Marcos Jr. claimed last week that some of the firearms the MILF turned over for decommissioning appeared to support reports the rebel group has been maintaining its own manufacturing facility.
“I don’t know, maybe Senator Marcos is receiving information from someone. But to me, my position on the manufacturing of weapons is simple practicality. If your (government) arsenal cannot produce the weapon, how can the MILF produce it?” Muntinlupa Rep. Rodolfo Biazon also said in a statement.
Biazon, a former Marine general, said the weapons turned over by the MILF were too sophisticated to have been locally produced. “They might be able to manufacture crude weapons but not sophisticated ones,” he said.
Pangilinan said past military actions against the MILF in Maguindanao and Lanao del Sur provinces must have long halted the operations of those facilities contained in a photo slides- cum-video documentary shown on national television by Retired Chief Supt. Rodolfo Mendoza, President of the Philippine Institute for Peace, Violence and Terrorism Research (PIPVTR) that there was an MILF secret gunsmith shop in Mt. Carao, Lanao Del Sur.
“As far as the command is concerned, there are no weapons facilities that the MILF is maintaining in our area of jurisdiction,” Pangilinan said.
He said the last known MILF firearms factory was seized in 2000 by the military and there had been no report of a similar facility since.
GPH Chief Negotiator Miriam Coronel-Ferrer said the information should be verified before being disseminated to the public.
“With regard the allegation that the MILF is manufacturing arms, we also do not want this to happen, so those with information should report to the AFP and the PNP or ceasefire committee so that we can take action,” she said.
Brig. Gen. Manolito Orense, chair of the government’s Ad hoc Joint Action Group (AHJAG), said they were willing to validate reports on weapons manufacturing.
But he added that so far, they have not received any information that an MILF arms manufacturing facility has been operating despite the peace process.
http://www.luwaran.com/index.php/new/item/489-no-milf-arms-manufacturing-facility-in-our-area-of-jurisdiction-gen-pangilinan
“Our ground forces have already verified such claims. There is no truth to such allegations,” Pangilinan said.
Gen. Pangilinan’s statement came in the light of Sen. Ferdinand Marcos Jr. claimed last week that some of the firearms the MILF turned over for decommissioning appeared to support reports the rebel group has been maintaining its own manufacturing facility.
“I don’t know, maybe Senator Marcos is receiving information from someone. But to me, my position on the manufacturing of weapons is simple practicality. If your (government) arsenal cannot produce the weapon, how can the MILF produce it?” Muntinlupa Rep. Rodolfo Biazon also said in a statement.
Biazon, a former Marine general, said the weapons turned over by the MILF were too sophisticated to have been locally produced. “They might be able to manufacture crude weapons but not sophisticated ones,” he said.
Pangilinan said past military actions against the MILF in Maguindanao and Lanao del Sur provinces must have long halted the operations of those facilities contained in a photo slides- cum-video documentary shown on national television by Retired Chief Supt. Rodolfo Mendoza, President of the Philippine Institute for Peace, Violence and Terrorism Research (PIPVTR) that there was an MILF secret gunsmith shop in Mt. Carao, Lanao Del Sur.
“As far as the command is concerned, there are no weapons facilities that the MILF is maintaining in our area of jurisdiction,” Pangilinan said.
He said the last known MILF firearms factory was seized in 2000 by the military and there had been no report of a similar facility since.
GPH Chief Negotiator Miriam Coronel-Ferrer said the information should be verified before being disseminated to the public.
“With regard the allegation that the MILF is manufacturing arms, we also do not want this to happen, so those with information should report to the AFP and the PNP or ceasefire committee so that we can take action,” she said.
Brig. Gen. Manolito Orense, chair of the government’s Ad hoc Joint Action Group (AHJAG), said they were willing to validate reports on weapons manufacturing.
But he added that so far, they have not received any information that an MILF arms manufacturing facility has been operating despite the peace process.
http://www.luwaran.com/index.php/new/item/489-no-milf-arms-manufacturing-facility-in-our-area-of-jurisdiction-gen-pangilinan
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