AFP loses 200 guns in Zambo fire

MANILA, Philippines - The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) lost more than 200 assault rifles and machine guns in a fire that razed its firearms supply building in Zamboanga del Sur shortly after midnight last Saturday.

Reports reaching Camp Aguinaldo said the blaze that hit the 1st Infantry Division Training Unit (1DTU) supply building at Upper Labangan, Pulacan in Pagadian City, was preceeded by an explosion.

Among the burned weapons were calibers .50, and .30 machine guns, an M60 machine gun, 51  M-14 assault rifles, an M-653 rifle, an M4 rifle, an M-79 grenade launchers, four M16 with M203 grenade launcher, two spare barrels for M60 machine guns, 131 M16 assault rifles, four K-3 assault rifles (Minimi), four spare barrels for K3 rifles and five caliber .45 pistols.

Initial investigation conducted by fire probers showed faulty electrical connections could have triggered the fire. There was no mention, of the explosion that reportedly occurred before the blaze.

Senior Fire Officer 1 Richard Cafino said the fire reportedly started in the room of Capt. Orlando Tamayo, a relieved IDTU officer, who was on a new assignment in Misamis Occidental.