Tuesday, January 27, 2015

MILF: GPH committed to pursue peace process with MILF

Posted to the MILF Website (Jan 27): GPH committed to pursue peace process with MILF

Despite the Maguindanao clash on Sunday, January 25 in Tukanalipao, Mamasapano, Maguindanao between Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) guerillas and members of Special Action Force of the Philippine National Police (SAF-PNP), the government is committed to pursue the peace process with MILF, Secretary Herminio Coloma, Jr. said in an press briefing yesterday at the Palace.
   
The firefight resulted to the death of 49 SAF members and five (5) MILF) combatants. It also displaced local residents.

The MILF, the military as well as local government officials were one in saying that there was no coordination made with them regarding the police operation.  The GPH and MILF ceasefire committee and as well as the ADJAG were not also coordinated.

MalacaƱang dispatched on Monday morning Interior and Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas and Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin to Cotabato City to supervise the retrieval operation and to prevent further escalation of the incident.

The SAF team was on a mission to arrest Zulkifli bin Hir, alias Marwan, a high-value target belonging to the “Markaziyah” or central command of the terrorist group Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) and his cohort Basit Usman who were reportedly in the area.

While in the area, the SAF members fired upon a house of Imam Salman of the MILF 105th Base Command thinking that their target “Marwan” was inside.  MILF guerillas engaged the SAF members resulting to the death many combatants.

Another report said that MILF forces clashed with policemen who were assigned at the right wing of operation who were approaching the house of Imam Salman.

Abu Misry Mama, BIFF Spokesman said that many of the casualties were victims of an ambush made by their members who also have a camp in the area. In a latest report, though not yet validated, Marwan was killed during the firefight.

President Aquino wanted a full report on the incident but the government’s position on the peace process with the Moro front had not changed, Coloma said.

All the facts must be ascertained first and “we should be circumspect” in making pronouncements because the investigation was not yet complete, Coloma stressed.

“The peace process in   Mindanao is important, the passage of the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) is important and we continue to push for the peace process,” he said. He added that President Aquino was aware of the operation and that the PNP-SAF performed the mission with courage and professionalism.

http://www.luwaran.com/index.php/welcome/item/1471-gph-committed-to-pursue-peace-process-with-milf

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