House probe on BFAR’s arms purchase sought??

ANGELES CITY, Philippines – A federation of fisherfolk has urged Congress to investigate the purchase of guns and ammunition by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR).

In a statement issued yesterday, the National Federation of Small Fisherfolk Organization in the Philippines (NFSFOP) cited a Commission on Audit (COA) report that BFAR purchased P8.9 million worth of guns and ammunition in 2012.

“BFAR has purchased five M16 rifles with insufficient supporting documents, 10 assault rifles, 28 shotguns, 120 9mm pistols, 10 handguns, 20 tactical flashlights and 50,000 assorted ammunition…that weren’t even in the bureau’s allocation,” the federation said. ???

“There were more firearms than the BFAR personnel authorized to use them,” said Salvador France, NFSFOP vice chairman. ???

France said BFAR also asked its “unauthorized and unqualified” employees to attend workshops on the use of the firearms.

He said BFAR had claimed the firearms would be used against illegal fishing.

“This is a clear misuse of public funds and abuse of power by BFAR director Asis Perez. Those millions of funds could have been used to support and rehabilitate our municipal fisherfolk,” France said.