Solons urge probe of weapons misuse

Two pro-administration congressmen urged an investigation yesterday on the misuse by mutinous soldiers of expensive equipment the United States gave the country for the international war on terror.

Negros Occidental Rep. Apolinario Lozada, chairman of the House committee on foreign relations, and Surigao del Sur Rep. Prospero Pichay, chairman of the House committee on defense, said the incident could have implications on future military aid from the US and other allied nations.

"This should be investigated," Pichay said. "From what I know, the US military equipment was not only given to elite units but distributed around."

Lozada said it is possible that the US government will be more stringent in extending badly needed military assistance to the Philippines.

"It is unfortunate that this happened," Lozada said. "I think they will be more strict."

He called for an inventory of the military’s weapons and equipment, particularly those that came from the US.

The weapons and equipment included night vision goggles, sophisticated scopes, thermal scanners, explosives, M1A4 carbines and Barret sniper rifles.

Iloilo Rep. Rolex Suplico said the matter would be taken up during today’s hearing on the failed mutiny last Sunday.

At least three of the 296 officers and men who were involved in the mutiny were from the 90-man light reaction company (LRC) that was trained and equipped by US Special Forces at the cost of P1 million per head last year.

Armed Forces chief Gen. Narciso Abaya said the LRC men who participated in the failed coup had taken the weapons from the unit’s arsenal.

"They have not only misused, but abused the trust in having those weapons in custody," Abaya said. "These weapons are not theirs, it’s the government’s. These weapons are meant to protect the republic, not to be used to topple a duly constituted authority and harm people."

Two more LRCs are being trained in Zamboanga City and Fort Magsaysay in Laur, Nueva Ecija.

The training and outfitting was part of the military aid the US pledged during President Arroyo’s visit to Washington D.C. in November 2001.