Trillanes: Discovery of arms proves warlords source weapons from AFP

The discovery of a large cache of firearms and ammunition near the Ampatuan mansion in Maguindanao province proves that warlords source their weapons from the military, according to detained Senator Antonio Trillanes IV. "It confirms our claim that...all this time, the arms and ammunition of warlords and other rogue groups which have wrecked havoc in our country are being supplied and sourced from the arsenals and factors of the Armed Forces of the Philippines," said Trillanes in a statement released on Friday. Trillanes is a former Navy officer who lead the 2003 Oakwood mutiny to protest the alleged rampant corruption in the government and the military. Government troops on Thursday dug up a cache of light artillery and heavy infantry weapons, including commando weapons, explosives, ammunition, and military uniforms in a vacant lot near the Ampatuan mansion in Poblacion Tres, Shariff Aguak. Some of the firearms were stamped with markings that read, “Department of Defense (DND) Arsenal" and “Arms Corporation of the Philippines." Military officials stationed in the area were also quoted as saying that the recovered weapons were enough to arm two Army brigades, with each brigade composed of an estimated 1,200 soldiers. “This corrupt and condemnable practice (of selling government firearms to war lords) has not only led to the sacrifice of countless lives of soldiers, law enforcement officials and innocent civilians but has been fueling the endless war in Mindanao and other volatile areas," Trillanes said. “This was also one of the root causes which impelled us to demonstrate and speak out against the current administration at Oakwood way back in 2003; at Manila Peninsula two years ago; and whenever we get the chance to be heard," he added. The senator said President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, as commander-in-chief, and former defense secretary Gilbert Teodoro Jr, standard-bearer of the the ruling party, should be made accountable for all the deaths caused by these guns. - AMITA O. LEGASPI, GMANews.TV