Biazon dismisses alleged MILF weapons factory: ‘The AFP could not even do it’
Muntinlupa Rep. Rodolfo Biazon today laughed off allegations that the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) has been assembling its firearms in its own weapons manufacturing factory in the mountains of Mindanao.
Biazon expressed disbelief over the claim of Sen. Bongbong Marcos on the existence of the weapons factory, pointing out that even the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), which has the legal status and funding to produce weapons, could not do it.
“That is very difficult to believe. Why? [Because] even our own arsenal cannot produce their weapons, especially sophisticated weapons. Puwede silang mag-manufacture niyan pero iyong pugakang (crude shotgun),” Biazon said.
He added: “If the Armed Forces have to buy their firearms and ammunitions, how can the MILF produce something that our own arsenals cannot?”
On Thursday, Senator Bongbong Marcos insisted that a substitute Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) is necessary to strengthen the decommissioning of MILF arms and weapons, which he alleged were made locally in the Moro group’s weapons manufacturing factory.
But Biazon said that for practical reasons, he could not agree with Marcos.
“I don’t know, maybe Sen. Marcos is receiving information from someone. But to me, my position on the manufacturing of weapon is simply practicality. If your arsenal cannot produce the weapon, how can the MILF produce it?” he stressed.
The MILF on June 16 turned over some 75 high-powered and crew-served weapons and decommissioned 145 of its combatants to the Independent Decommissioning Body (IDB) as a proof of their sincerity to bring lasting peace in Mindanao.
At the same time, Biazon said he would ask Rep. Rufus Rodriguez, chairman of the ad hoc committee on the Bangsamoro Basic Law at the House of Representatives, to allow discussions on issues that need to be explained further about the proposed bill when Congress resumes sessions in July 27.
“I think this debate is important to be followed by media so that the debates can be explained to the people. Ano bang pinag-uusapan diyan kasi ang problema sa debate na iyan may kani-kaniyang posisyon diyan. Ang this differing positions need to be developed into a consensus so that a law can be passed,” he explained.
Among the issues that Biazon wishes to be clarified on the BBL are as follows: (1) Will the MILF not repeat what the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) have done? That despite the decommissioning agreement with the government by virtue of the Tripoli Agreement and the Jakarta accord, they continue to wage war against the government forces; (2) when will the decommissioning process be completed if ever Congress approves the draft BBL in October?; and (3) Will the creation of the Bangsamoro government, which will allow candidates from the MILF to seek public office, not lead to a possible political violence during the campaign and during the 2016 elections?
On the other hand, Government of the Philippines (GPH) Peace Panel Chair Miriam Coronel Ferrer admitted in a recent press briefing in Malacanang that the proposed Bangsamoro law is not perfect.
She said the clean-up or fine-tuning of the provisions of the draft BBL is up to the legislators of both the Senate and the House of Representatives. She, however, stressed that the draft Bangsamoro “does not in any way diminish any of the powers of the constitutional bodies.”#