MANILA, Philippines - The 27,000 high-powered firearms issued to frontline troops in line with the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Capability Upgrade Program (CUP) have been recalled.
Col. Noel Detoyato, AFP public affairs office chief, said the decision to recall the M4 assault rifles was due to the weapons’ rear sight defects as per the findings of the military’s Tactical Inspection and Acceptance Committee (TIAC).
“When they were delivered, we have the technical inspection and acceptance committee and when they tested (the firearms) they found out the defects,” Detoyato said.
However, it was not explained why despite the TIAC findings, the firearms were issued to the troops during a ceremonial turnover at Camp Aguinaldo last year with no less than President Aquino presiding over the ceremony.
Most of these rifles were issued to members of the Army’s elite Scout Rangers and Special Forces, many of whom were deployed in Mindanao.