DND says any personel found gunrunning and pilfering firearms will be sanctioned

September 18, 2019

The Department of National Defense ( DND) assures that any member found guilty of gunrunning or pilferage of firearms will be sanctioned.

"We take cognizance of Chief Minister Al-Hajj Murad Ebrahim's comment. We assure the public that anyone from the defense establishment who is found guilty of gunrunning or pilferage of firearms and munitions will be dealt with severely and sanctioned accordingly," DND Public Affairs Service chief Arsenio Andolong said Wednesday.

Murad told ANC that military armory is main source of loose firearms in Mindanao.

"The DND is strongly against the proliferation of loose firearms and will not tolerate any individuals or groups that violate Philippine gun laws," he added.

On the other hand, Brig. Gen. Edgard Arevalo, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) spokesman, said the military will not tolerate this act.

"We are aware that there were losses of firearms and ammunition during armed engagements and ambuscades in the past. And those were properly reflected on records," he said.

"But given this information and other attendant details from Chairman Murad, we will conduct investigation and inventory", Arevalo noted.

"We would like to assure Mr. Murad and the public that this is not tolerated in the AFP," he added.

Arevalo said there will be stiff penalties for military personnel who will be found guilty of weapon proliferation.

"The AFP has very strict regulations concerning cases of pilferage. And should this be the case, we will throw the books at any military personnel found guilty of such offense," he said.

"And they will be meted stiff penalties under the Articles of War—other criminal and civil   punishments applicable, notwithstanding," he added. Robina Asido/DMS