WHEN former rebels come down from the hills and turn in their guns, they received cash assistance from the government to help facilitate their social reintegration under the Department of the Interior and Local Government’s (DILG) Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP).
Government auditors, however, found that 51 surrendered firearms from 2018 to 2020 worth P1.877 million have not been disposed contrary to the guidelines set under DILG Circular No. 2018-17.
The same circular specifically warned that none of the recovered guns must be re-issued or recycled, hence the instruction for the Firearms, Explosives, and Ammunitions Disposal Committee (FEADC) to cut, bend, deform, blowtorch, and chop parts to render all of them inoperable.
While the firearms were counted, auditors noted missing details on valuation or state/condition which should have been included in the Technical Inspection Report (TIR).
“Additionally, it was gathered that the turned-in firearms were not destroyed nor demilitarized. The E-CLIP Tea was also not provided with a copy of the forensic examination and cross-matching reports on these firearms,” the audit team said.
Worse, there were confusing information under whose custody the 51 firearms eventually ended.
“Confirmation of whereabouts and status of firearms revealed that these were turned over to the PNP Regional Supply Accountable Officer (RSAO) of Police Regional Office 9 allegedly supported with Property Turn-In Slips (PTIS). However, the subject FAs (firearms) could not be traced to the PTIS provided by the Provincial SAO,” the Commission on Audit noted.
There were also glaring discrepancies in some reports over the number and provenance of some firearms.
According to a custodial debriefing conducted by the Armed Forces of the Philippines on one former rebel, the person surrendered only one M16A1 rifle. This was confirmed in the former rebel’s executed affidavit.
However, in the Joint AFP-PNP Intelligence Committee (JAPIC) certification, the lone rifle became three as two AK-47 rifles were added to the items surrendered.
Despite the disagreeing reports, valuations were made and sums were paid for the “surrendered” firearms to the tune of P322,000.
When auditors sought proof of custody, they were told there were no photo documentation. The serial numbers on the AK-47s were also not listed as they were reportedly defaced.
The TIR also made no indication that these same firearms have not previously availed of the same program.
In its comment to the audit findings, the DILG said it has completed the inventory of all firearms and assured the COA that documents are being finalized for submission by May 25, 2022.
Auditors said even the 225 former rebels who took part in the program from 2016 to 2020 were pretty much left on their own after being paid P17.374 million in livelihood, reintegration, and firearms remuneration assistance.
“The progress of the 225 former rebels was not monitored by the LCE (local chief executive) after they have completed the program in terms of successful reintegration to the community,” the COA said.
Due to the absence of such monitoring, the program has no data whether the former rebels have shown productivity or whether they have remained peaceful members of the adoptive community.
