MANILA, Philippines - Malacañang clarified yesterday reports that the government is investigating a faction of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) in connection with the smuggling of weapons to the US allegedly involving a California state senator.
In a letter to The STAR, deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said she made no mention of an MILF faction when reporters interviewed her Saturday about the case of US Sen. Leland Yee.
“The question that was posed to me during the briefing and the subsequent responses made no mention of any Muslim rebel group, much less any mention of the MILF," she said.
Valte issued the statement following The STAR's banner story Sunday entitled "Phl to probe arms smuggling" where the lead paragraph mentioned the involvement of an unidentified military captain, Yee and an MILF faction.
"It was quite clear from my subsequent responses that the investigation is centered on the alleged involvement of a supposed member of the Armed Forces (of the Philippines)," she said.
Valte said a transcript of the interview would bear her out that what she said was: "We don't tolerate any gun running in any shape or form, especially if you belong to the Armed Forces or to any of the security forces for that matter."
Valte said the MILF is not included in the investigation.
"Unfortunately... it would seem to your readers that the investigation being conducted by the Department of National Defense and the AFP includes a faction of the MILF, which is certainly not the case," she said.
NBI ready to join probe
The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) is ready to participate or even lead an investigation into the reported smuggling of weapons to the US
However, NBI Director Virgilio Mendez said they need an order from their superiors to join the investigation.
"We're ready to do any task given us by higher-ups," he said.
Mendez said the NBI has the capability, the knowledge, and resources to conduct a credible and efficient investigation.
"We've been doing this kind of investigation," he said. - With Rainier Allan Ronda