AN OFFICIAL of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG)-Northern Mindanao confirmed over the weekend that the P372,000 worth of ammunition seized in the bus terminal in Agora, Lapasan, Cagayan de Oro City, on October 13, were pilfered from the government.
Chief Inspector Melgar Devaras, CIDG-Northern Mindanao deputy regional chief, said an in-depth investigation is still ongoing to determine whether the machine gun ammunition and the four M203 rounds came from the armory of the military or from the Philippine National Police (PNP).
"As far as I know original naman yung mga ammunition kasi wala namang private entity na gumagawa nun so we believe na sa government ang source but I cannot divulge whether its from the military or the PNP kasi on going ang investigation," Devaras said.
Devaras said the government's intelligence arms that includes the Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (ISAFP) and the Military Intelligence Group (MIG) are stepping up efforts to get to the bottom of the incident.
Devaras said the ammunition were likely not smuggled from outside the country as the Government Arsenal is capable of manufacturing the kind of ammunition seized.
"Kasi mayroon tayo available locally kasi kung galing sa ibang bansa yung neighboring asian countries dadaan sa backdoor sa Zamboanga siguro hindi sa Manila," Devaras said.
"Most probably may mga nagpapalusot but for now ongoing ang investigation particularly sa ISAFP and MIG para ma-uncover yung responsable," Devaras added.
Devaras did not discount the possibilities of conspiracy and connivance between the source and personnel of the terminal or the bus company.
"Sa tingin ko posible may connivance din yan napaka-relax masyado doon kung di ma-notice sa tagal nang transaction na accordingly since 2010 di yan mabisto. Baka may kasabwat din yan dyan sa pinaka source sa Pasay," Devaras said.
The nine boxes containing the more than 6,000 rounds of M60 ammunition and the four pieces of M203 grenades were transported and arrived at the Agora terminal last Wednesday, October 12 via a Philtranco bus.
Authorities arrested Amer Macarangal, 18, and Jabar Mangadag, 33, residents of Marawi City but natives of Butig Lanao del Sur, who both claimed the contraband the following day.
Authorities believed the illegal items will be delivered to terror groups in Mindanao and might be used for lawless activities.
The CIDG has pressed charges against the suspects for violation of the comprehensive law on firearms and ammunition and (RA10591) and the unlawful possession of explosives (RA 9516).
Devaras said possession of explosives is a non-bailable offense but possession of ammunition is a bailable offense.