PNP probes 'cannibalized' weapons returned by MILF

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine National Police (PNP) is set to investigate allegedly defective Special Action Force (SAF) weapons that were recently returned by the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

Observers say parts of the firearms retrieved from the site of Mamasapano clash were missing or seem to have been replaced.

PNP spokesperson Chief Supt. Generoso Cerbo said that the firearms will undergo macro-etching to determine if they were tampered.

"Ang parts ng baril interchangeable so pwede itong i-cannibalize at puwedeng gamitin sa ibang baril," Cerbo said in a televised interview.

Last week, the MILF returned 20 units of M4 carbines, two units of grenade launchers, an FN Minimi machine gun, a cellular phone and various accessories their members recovered from the the encounter with police commandos. The gun fight led to the death of 44 SAF commandos.

Sen. Ferdinand Marcos Jr. earlier commented that returning cannibalized SAF weapons is not a sign of good faith.

"In fact, it is like a slap in our faces,” Marcos said.