Gov’t arsenal to use laser marking machines for ammos

From the Philippine Daily Inquirer (Sep 28): Gov’t arsenal to use laser marking machines for ammos

The Philippine government arsenal is planning to acquire more laser marking machines to be able to distinguish every round of small armed ammunition that they have produced.

The arsenal has acquired one laser marking machine after the Ampatuan massacre in 2009, where government ammunition were recovered from their residence in Maguindanao, chief of the strategic management office of the government arsenal Roger Gamban said in a statement.

“The machine has been delivered and is currently undergoing commissioning process,” he added.

The arsenal’s statement comes after the Philippine National Police confiscated firearms containing “government arsenal” markings allegedly supplied to the Abu Sayyaf.

READ: PNP seizes P6M worth of guns, ammo supplied to Abu Sayyaf

“Similar to other manufacturers, the arsenal’s responsibility and accountability as a producer of small arms ammunition, ceases from the time the items are hauled by the Armed Forces of the Philippines and/or the PNP as we do not have the capability to monitor on which AFP or PNP units these ammunitions are issued,” Gamban said.

The machines would allow them to trace to whom the ammunition was last issued upon examination of the fired case.

Because of the recent incident, they are aiming to acquire at least three more units of the machine to cover all calibers of ammunition being manufactured by the government arsenal.

“This would make the GA the second ammunition manufacturer in the world that employs laser markings,” Gamban said.  http://technology.inquirer.net/52955/govt-arsenal-to-use-laser-marking-machines-for-ammos