Senators Rodolfo Biazon and Richard Gordon are seeking an in depth investigation by their respective Senate committees over the high-powered firearms and ammunition unearthed near the compound of the Ampatuan clan in Shariff Aguak, Maguindanao.

Biazon is the chairman of the Senate Committee on National defense and Security while Gordon is chairman of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee. “We would like to know where these firearms came from. The committee would look into allegations or speculations that government firearms are being sold or even given by the government to private armies,” said Gordon.

The committee will invite as resource persons officials of the Commission on Audit (CoA), Department of National Defense (DND), Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and Philippine National Police (PNP).

Gordon noted that during the raids of Ampatuan estates conducted by the military and police personnel, high-powered firearms including anti-tank recoilless rifles, mortars, machine guns, rifles and pistols, and thousands of rounds of ammunition that are enough to arm one battalion were discovered.

Some of the high-powered firearms contain the markings of DND and PNP. Some of these weapons were allegedly used in the Maguindanao massacre that killed at least 57 people civilians last November 23.

“We will ask the CoA to audit the DND and PNP to make sure that weapons and firearms purchased by our military and police departments are all accounted for,” he said.

The senator also stressed that the government must intensify its efforts in gathering all loose firearms, not only in Maguindanao but also throughout the country to prevent incidences of violence such as the Maguindanao massacre.

The PNP pegs the number of unlicensed firearms at 1.11 million units. The ARMM alone has the second highest number of unregistered firearms with over 114,000 units.

“The police officials in Maguindanao should have been instantly relieved after the PNP learned about the massacre. Martial law should have been likewise declared immediately in the province following such atrocious act,” Gordon said.

“The government should now take real steps to collect all illegal firearms in the area and bring back peace and order in the province,” he said.

Biazon also filed a resolution directing the Senate Committee on National Defense and Security to conduct an inquiry on the weapons and ammunitions discovered in or near the residences of the Ampatuans.

Meanwhile, Biazon warned that declaring martial law in Maguindano could be that first sinister step in absolving the close political allies of the President, the Ampatuans for the massacre in Maguindano.

Biazon filed the resolution as he expressed doubts and objection to the declaration of martial law.

“There is no need to declare martial law which does not add anything to the problem of having to arrest and prosecute the perpetuators of the massacre. We have laws, the courts, the means — the police and their brother in arms the military. We don’t need any powers and arrangements perceived with the declaration of martial law,” Biazon said in a press statement.

“What is needed is the rule of law. The pressure will be on the Executive Department who has control over the law enforcement agencies and the judiciary,” he said. (Rolly T. Carandang)