BIFF won't return SAF weapons without rematch vs PNP
MANILA, Philippines - The Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) insisted on Friday that it will not return the weapons of the Philippine National Police Special Action Force (PNP SAF) troopers who were killed in Mamasapano, Maguindanao.
BIFF spokesman Azis Mama said the rebels earned the weapons after defeating the SAF combatants in the botched January 25 police operation.
"It will be hard to return the 10 recovered firearms because we didn't borrow them. Just like in boxing, the enemy was knocked down so we will not return the belt we obtained unless there's a rematch," Mama told radio dzMM in Filipino.
BIFF and Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) fighters killed the 44 SAF troopers who were out to arrest terrorists Zulkifli bin Hir, alias Marwan, and Basit Usman.
The BIFF earlier said it took the weapons and ammunition of 10 SAF commandos killed by its men, and taunted government forces to come and get them back if they can.
"Let them come here and take bullets that they want us to return," BIFF spokesman Abu Misra told the STAR.
He said the BIFF is definitely not returning the weapons and ammunition as it intends to use them against government forces.
Misri said among the high-powered weapons seized by their fighters from the fallen SAF commandos was a 90 mm. recoilless rifle (90RR).
The MILF returned on Wednesday 16 of the firearms taken from the slain SAF commandos.
Malacañang, however, said the return of the weapons is not enough proof of the rebel group's sincerity as a partner in peace.
Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma said the MILF should also hunt down Usman, identify and hold accountable its members involved in the Mamasapano encounter, and return all the weapons and equipment taken from the slain cops.
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