December 15-22(2009)

Some of the high-powered firearms that the influential Ampatuan clan issued to its private armies were “gifts” from two politicians, Defense Secretary Norberto Gonzales told media recently. Their names cropped up during the investigation into the November 23 massacre of 57 people in Ampatuan, Maguindanao.

Come on, Mr. Gonzales, you do not really mean business! If you are really serious you can easily pinpoint the source of the firearms and ammunition. The names of Major General Alfredo Cayton, ex-commanding General of the Army’s 6th Infantry Division, and Col. Medardo Geslani, chief of the Army’s 601st Infantry Brigade, can come in handy in any honest-to-goodness investigation. But the fact that the weapons’ stockpile are so huge, enough to equip three battalions of soldiers, then the search must start earlier from 2001 when Datu Andal, with the full support of the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), captured the governorship of Maguindanao from Atty. Zacaria Candao, who until this time can defeat any candidate in fair and square election. But the might of the PNP and AFP is too much for any candidate to overcome; Candao fell as a victim.

Added to this is, Datu Andal became the avid supporter or “spoiled father” of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo (she called Datu Andal not by his name or as governor but as ‘father’) and his support peaked when he had practically zeroed all opposition candidates in Maguindanao including presidential candidate Fernando Poe Jr., who can defeat any candidate hands down in this province being a super hero among Moro moviegoers.

Cayton and Geslani were merely relieved of their commands. At least Geslani would have been charged for complicity in the massacre. The municipality of Ampatuan is part of his command jurisdiction and at least he could have responded so easily but he failed to stop the mass slaughter. Instead of being charged, they were merely relieved of their commands and transferred to other commands, which clearly is meant to spare them from any wrongdoing especially as source of some of the firearms and ammunition.

There are too many guns in Mindanao. But they cannot be procured so easily. Even the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) has to source some of their war materiels from the AFP, either by direct purchase or by capturing them. In war odd things do happen: Even enemies can be partners in trade or business. But the government or the highest echelon of the AFP continues to deny this. We do not know why they close their eyes and ears to this almost open trading.

Of course, the MILF had also received war materiels from overseas, especially rocket-propelled grenade launchers, mortars, and machineguns. But these importations, aside from being very difficult and risky, are not frequent: Thanks to the gunrunners’ syndicates! So, where do we get our replenishments? The answer is already provided above.

On the contrary, Datu Andal, although extremely rich, has no capacity or kniown connections to procure firearms from overseas, which strictly requires an end-user certificate. And only government has or can issue this certificate. The conclusion, therefore, contrary to what Gonzales wanted to portray, is that the weapons and ammunition of the Andal’s private army came from the AFP and PNP. Gonzales’ name-dropping of the two politicians (similarly, where did they get their firearms?) is a squid tactic to spare the AFP and PNP from any wrongdoing.

Mr. Secretary, let’s be truthful! Go to the source, not to the user.