MILF forming own team to probe Mamasapano clash

Sun Star-Cagayan de Oro (Jan 29): MILF forming own team to probe Mamasapano clash

The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) is forming a special body to probe the bloody "misencounter" in Mamasapano, Maguindanao on January 25 that left at least 44 police officers and several Moro rebels dead.

The MILF announced this decision in an official statement on the incident that was released Wednesday morning. The statement was signed by Al Hadj Murad Ebrahim, chair of the MILF’s central committee.

“First and foremost, we express and send our deepest sympathies to the families and friends of those who died in the armed encounter in Mamasapano, Maguindanao,” the MILF said.

“The emotions of loss and pain are not alien to us Bangsamoro and Mujahideen. Nevertheless, respect and solidarity are due to all, irrespective of which side they belong,” the group added.

The "misencounter" happened as hundreds of elements of the Philippine National Police’s Special Action Force (SAF) went into Mamasapano for a pre-dawn operation to ferret out alleged Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) terrorist Zulkifli bin Hir alias Marwan and his Filipino host Basit Usman.

The area is a stronghold of the MILF.

The MILF has said the entry of the SAF elements in Mamasapano was not coordinated with it through agreed upon mechanisms of the peace process; hence, the members of its armed wing, the Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces (BIAF), in the area were not forewarned.

“Our concern is the truth. There will be a lot of speculations as to what happened, and until what happened is established with credibility and integrity, the said incident will weigh down our current efforts to bring peace to our homeland,” the MILF admitted.

Murad said the MILF is convening a Special Investigative Commission (SlC) to undertake its own probe into the incident.

Earlier, MILF peace panel chair Mohagher Iqbal called for an independent investigation by the International Monitoring Team (IMT).

Murad said the MILF’s probe body would be composed of members of its Central Committee and the BIAF General Staff. The body will be tasked to “investigate the events at Mamasapano, Maguindanao that resulted in the death of members of the MILF and of soldiers of the Philippine Government.”

“The mandate of the SIC is to gather as much reliable information and interview witnesses to establish the truth,” Murad added.

He added that the SIC “is given instruction to come up with a report to the Central Committee as soon as possible.”

“We hereby reiterate the MILFs full commitment to the peace process with the Philippine Government. An enduring peace and justice remain to be our primary objective,” Murad said.

http://www.sunstar.com.ph/cagayan-de-oro/local-news/2015/01/29/milf-forming-own-team-probe-mamasapano-clash-389142