'Blood on GMA's hands' - Trillanes
More weapons of private armies unchecked

Senator Antonio Trillanes IV wants the alleged distribution and endorsement by the government of more than 4,000 high-powered weapons to political allies investigated.

In a resolution filed in the wake of the 'Maguindanao massacre' that claimed the lives of close to 60 people including women and journalists, Trillanes said the issuance of firearms to local political warlords and their private armies in the area was sanctioned by Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo with EO 546 in 2006.

"For Malacañang to have legitimized these groups in politically volatile areas, the blood of the victims is on their hands," he added.

In just three municipalities in Maguindanao, around 400 purported civilian members of security personnel linked to the family of the suspect, Andal Ampatuan Jr. had been reportedly disarmed by the military and police.

"Many weapons are unchecked in other tense areas and if these remain among abusive private armies, there may be more casualties of electoral violence leading up to the 2010 polls," said Trillanes.

During its National Summit on Firearms this year, the Philippine National Police cited a total of 274 election-related violent incidents involving the use of firearms in 2004 and 2007, with the highest number reported in the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao, followed by Region 9 and the Cordillera Administrative Region.

The Philippines is also ranked 10th in gun homicide rates worldwide, according to a 2005 World Health Organization study presented by the PNP.