President Duterte has called for a Senate inquiry into the importation of AK-47 rifles into the country that supposedly ended up in the hands of communist insurgents.
The President made the request to former police chief and now Senator Ronald dela Rosa to conduct a probe into the weapons supply deal during his sixth and final State of the Nation Address (SONA) Monday, July 27.
In his remarks, Duterte claimed that the weapons were imported by a certain police colonel in the guise of providing security for business establishments. The AK-47 rifles however have supposedly been used by communist rebels to kill government troops.
"When you go to the mountains such as I and Senator (Christopher) Go many times, even during the elections, they were there with so many arms that I think somebody --- an idiot here in the Philippines supplied the firearms," Duterte said.
"I'd like to ask Congress, especially Senator Bato (de la Rosa), kindly dig on because we have identified the person who imported the AK-47 into this country on the pretext of using it in the security --- providing security and guards in all, in business establishments and for those who can afford their home.
Despite the gains in the anti-insurgency front, the President bewailed that the many soldiers perished from these weapons used by rebels in their encounters.
"This policeman, I think, is still there. He was a colonel and he is still... Walang nangyari. At maraming sundalong namatay dahil sa mga armas na pinasok nila dito sa Pilipinas (Nothing happened. Many soldiers were killed because of the weapons imported into the Philippines)," he said.