August 8, 2000, Philippine Daily Inquirer, Gov't vies with Sayyaf in Mindanao arms market, by Carlito Pablo,

August 8, 2000, Philippine Daily Inquirer, Gov't vies with Sayyaf in Mindanao arms market, by Carlito Pablo,

THE GOVERNMENT is buying high-powered firearms from the underground arms market in Mindanao to prevent the cash-rich extremist group Abu Sayyaf from getting hold of the weapons. President Estrada has approved a proposal to focus the government's "Balik-Baril Program" in Central Mindanao where former members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) are reportedly disposing of their firearms.

The refocusing of the "Balik-Baril Program" will likely include Basilan and Sulu, known strongholds of the Abu Sayyaf, which is shopping for heavy weapons. The Abu Sayyaf is believed to be using the P220 million in ransom it collected from its kidnapping operations to finance its buying- spree.

The "Balik-Baril Program" involves getting firearms from rebels in exchange for cash--representing the market value of the weapons--and alternative livelihood programs. Administered by the defense department, the program started in March 1987 as part of government measures in dealing with the communist and secessionist rebellions.

In the '70s, the Marcos regime also bought firearms from former members of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) as part of its rebel returnee program. Aside from the refocused "Balik-Baril Program," the government has launched "Oplan Bakal" to control the proliferation of unlicensed guns. Interior Secretary Alfredo Lim has warned that people holding unlicensed firearms would be arrested, disarmed-and shot if they resisted.

There are some 270,000 unlicensed guns in the country. But Sen. Rodolfo Biazon, chair of the committee on national defense, said yesterday that Lim's campaign to rid the country of illegal firearms would be put to a severe test in Mindanao where anxious civilians were arming themselves for possible terrorist attacks.

Biazon, a former Armed Forces chief of staff, said Lim should pay special attention to Christian vigilantes reportedly stockpiling arms following the series of massacres blamed on Moro rebels.

Dequiña proposal

The proposal to refocus the "Balik-Baril Program" came from North Cotabato Rep. Anthony Dequiña, who informed Malacañang that many MILF rebels wanted to turn in their guns. Dequiña told the President that some were selling their firearms in the underground market. The President has directed Defense Secretary Orlando Mercado to adopt Dequiña's proposal.

A group consisting of officials from Malacañang, Department of National Defense and Armed Forces of the Philippines is fine-tuning the "Balik-Baril Program." The working group "will have an immediate problem with the Abu Sayyaf because they are driving the prices of firearms skyward," a source said.

Based on intelligence reports, the Abu Sayyaf is offering P48,000 for an M- 16 rifle, the standard weapon of the Armed Forces. The government lists the price of an M-16 as P25,000. From March 1987 to June 2000, the government was able to collect 18,471 firearms and 2,775 explosive devices under the Balik-Baril Program.

Moro armed groups handed over 14,171 firearms and 2,208 explosive devices. For this year, a total of 1,248 firearms and 89 explosive devices were collected nationwide under the "Balik-Baril Program." The Office of the President is funding the program through the National Peace and Unification Development Council.

Vigilantes

In a statement, Biazon said Lim should pay special attention to the reported arming of Christians against threats of an MILF attack. "The arming of Christians, who cannot be faulted if they want to protect themselves from attacks by Moro rebels and other lawless elements, will be also a case to be considered if Interior Secretary Lim will implement his present Oplan Bakal campaign uniformly across the country," he noted.

Biazon said Lim's campaign "will be very difficult to carry out especially because at present, there are not enough members of the Philippine National Police and the AFP who could provide security to civilian communities in Mindanao."

Biazon said Christians who arm themselves coud not be blamed "since this is a case of self-preservation." Biazon also wants Lim to monitor the activities of the bodyguards of Gov. Nur Misuari of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao following reports that he is allowed more bodyguards than other local officials.

"The implementation of Lim's Oplan Bakal will be put to a test in Mindanao, especially if Presidential Decree No. 1866, the law on illegal firearms, is violated frequently by bodyguards of warlords, politicians and other sectors," Biazon said.

In Taguig, Metro Manila, an Army private and two civilians were arrested after they were found to be carrying unlicensed pistols and a bladed weapon. Arrested in separate operations on Aug. 5-6 were Pvt. Efren Bico, 24, of Novaliches, Quezon City; Edgar Cabiles, 48, of Bicutan, Taguig; and Ferdinand Layaoen, 33, of Bagong Bayan, Taguig.

Bico was carrying a .45 cal. Automatic, and Cabiles a .38 cal. Revolver. In a report, the DILG said the guns were not covered by proper permits. Layaoen was armed with a fan knife. The three were arrested at a checkpoint set up at the main gate of the FTI Complex in Bicutan, Taguig, by the Task Force Katapat II, which the DILG created to enforce the Oplan Bakal. With reports from Cathy Yamsuan and Volt Contreras