Return of 16 SAF guns 'good first step'
MANILA, Philippines - A total of 16 Philippine National Police-Special Action Force (PNP-SAF) firearms were turned over to the Philippine National Police at Camp Aguinaldo on Thursday morning.
The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) returned the said firearms which belonged to police commandos killed during the Mamasapano clash last January 25.
The MILF turned over the 14 assault rifles and two machine guns to the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) at Camp Siongco in Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao on Wednesday.
READ: MILF turns over 16 guns
During a press conference held after the turnover ceremony at Camp Aguinaldo, AFP chief Gen. Gregorio Catapang urged the MILF to return the other firearms and belongings of the slain police commandos.
"We view this gesture that our brothers in MILF want to sustain gains of peace and progress that we have worked for," Catapang said.
Catapang assured that the AFP is committed to the peace process.
PNP acting chief Director General Leonardo Espina, meanwhile, sid that the government is also expecting the MILF to surrender terrorist Basit Usman and those who are accountable for the deaths of 44 police commandos.
Interior and Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas noted that the return of SAF weapons is a "good first step" for the peace process.
"Magandang pagkakataon ito para maipakita ang uri ng pamamahala na magaganap sa katapusan ng usaping pangkapayapaan," Roxas said.
On Wednesday, the Palace said that returning the SAF firearms is not enough proof of the MILF's sincerity with the peace process.
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