MILF: Ceasefire mechanisms not meant to limit police mandate

From the Manila Bulletin (Jan 31): MILF: Ceasefire mechanisms not meant to limit police mandate

Amid the debate on the issue of “coordination” in the tragic Mamasapano incident, Ghazali Jaafar, MILF vice chairman for Political Affairs, yesterday emphasized that the ceasefire mechanisms embodied in the peace process are not meant to limit the Philippine National Police (PNP) in fulfilling its mandate as provided for by the Constitution.

He said limiting the mandate of the PNP was not discussed in the negotiations. “What was discussed are the parameters of the peace process, such as (going after criminals) which is very important to the two parties — the government and the MILF.”

In a radio interview, Jaafar recalled incidents in the past where kidnap victims were freed without any untoward incident because of the coordination between the government and the MILF.

“It should not have happened if the (ceasefire) mechanisms of the peace process were followed. In the first place, the reason the GPH and MILF entered into the peace process is to prevent these things,” Jaafar said referring to the Mamasapano massacre.

There are reports that the ceasefire committee tried to halt the fighting at about 6 a.m. Sunday but was reportedly ignored by the MILF rebels.

Mamasapano is MILF territory and rebel forces claimed they were just protecting their territory.

Jaafar said the MILF Central Committee (CC), its highest policy-making body, approved the formation of a seven-man Special Investigative Commission (SIC) to unearth what really happened in Mamasapano.

“It was already formed during the CC’s meeting (on Thursday). The MILF must know the whole incident,” he said.

Following the withdrawal of support for the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) by some members of Congress following the tragic incident that claimed the lives of 44 elite commandos, Jaafar said the MILF is concerned about this development.

“If this is what is going to happen, this is counterproductive to all concern, all of us — the Government of the Philippines (GPH), Bangsamoro people, Filipino people, because what the nation needs…is to have an immediate solution to the war in Mindanao,” Jaafar added in the same radio interview.

“Until the Bangsamoro is given solution, this is going to happen in Mindanao. So, the BBL should be approved on schedule,” the MILF leader said.

http://www.mb.com.ph/milf-ceasefire-mechanisms-not-meant-to-limit-police-mandate/