Serial numbers of retrieved AK-47s defaced - AFP

MANILA, Philippines - The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has discovered that most of the 45 AK-47 automatic rifles recovered in Caraga region and Davao provinces have tampared serial numbers, a military official said Tuesday.

Capt. Alberto Caber of the AFP's Eastern Mindanao Command said five of the AK-47 automatic rifles retrieved in the provinces were from the stock of the 1,000 firearms allegedly pilfered from the Philippine National Police and sold to communist rebels.

Caber said defacing the serial numbers of the firearms will mislead investigators determining the source of the rifles.

The military has yet to make an inventory of how many of the retrieved firearms had been tampered with, Caber said.

The serial numbers are usually found on the body of the rifles.