THE Papua New Guinea Defence Force (PNGDF) has confirmed that a component of a weapon reported missing last month has been successfully recovered, dispelling rumors circulating on social media that the weapon remains unaccounted for.
PNGDF Commander, Rear Admiral Philip Polewara, said the Military Police recovered the weapon component following investigations into an incident that occurred during a testing activity at the Force Support Battalion at Murray Barracks late last month.
“Claims circulating on social media that a weapon went missing and is still at large are untrue and misleading,” Rear Admiral Polewara said.
Despite the recovery, the PNGDF Chief acknowledged the incident as a serious security breach and assured the public that the matter is being treated with the utmost seriousness at Headquarters PNGDF.
He said findings and recommendations from the investigation will inform changes and improvements to security systems across PNGDF units as part of broader, force-wide reforms planned for 2026 and beyond.
Rear Admiral Polewara also issued a stern warning that accountability will be enforced, stating that the Commanding Officer of the Force Support Battalion and the leadership team, along with any personnel found to be involved in or aware of the theft, will face severe repercussions.
“I commend the Military Police for their diligent work in recovering the weapon component,” he said. “I also extend my appreciation to all who assisted in the recovery, particularly members of our local communities.”
The PNGDF has reiterated its commitment to maintaining strict security standards and safeguarding military assets, while taking decisive action to prevent similar incidents in the future.