The head of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) on Friday corroborated reports that Malaysian terrorist Zulkifli Bin Hir alias Marwan was killed in Sunday's police operation in Maguindanao, which also resulted in the deaths of 44 elite policemen.
In an exclusive report on “24 Oras,” MILF chairman Al Hajj Murad Ebrahim said they learned of Marwan's death from an “intelligence report.”
“Ang intelligence po namin, 'yung target talaga, na merong kubo, nandun siya. So nang paligiran ng mga SAF (Special Action Force), nauna daw siyang bumaril. Pero meron tinamaan yata sa SAF. Pagkatapos ay nabaril nila at napatay nila,” Murad said, referring to Marwan.
Murad said Marwan's body was left in the nipa hut that was his home, and was immediately buried.
However, the police force's other target, Basit Usman, described as a foreign-trained bombmaker, was in another location, the report said, citing information reaching the MILF.
[Video report]
The members of the Special Action Force, an elite unit in the Philippine National Police, went to an MILF-controlled area in Mamasapano town last Sunday to serve the arrest warrant on Marwan, but the operation led to what authorities called a “misencounter.”
The “24 Oras” report quoted Murad as saying that they were unaware that Marwan and Usman were in their territory.
Murad also defended MILF fighters who engaged the SAF commandos in what he described as a legitimate encounter, but added the organization will still conduct an independent investigation on the incident.
He said violators among their ranks will not be turned over to the government but will be tried based on the Sharia Law.
“Pagka nag-surrender, nag-give up na yung tao, then hindi maaring barilin... Unang-una, there will be suspension and then they will be subject to Sharia Court,” he said.
He also admitted that MILF forces were reinforced by members of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters, some private armies, and armed residents.
“Diyan sa mga area na 'yan, ito yung reality na kapag may nakikitang common enemy, lahat ay nakikisali na,” Murad said.
He said the MILF lost 11 members in Sunday's clash. Nine were wounded.
Despite this, Murad said the MILF still wants to continue the peace process with the government.
Dead man in photo spreading online not Marwan
Meanwhile, an MILF commander who refused to be named said the dead man in a photograph that has been circulating on social media is not Marwan.
In a report on "24 Oras", an unidentified MILF commander said the man in the photograph is a certain Ustadz Or of the MILF's 105th Base Command.
"Hindi siya. Taga kuwan ito, kasamahan ng 105th. Element ito ng 105th... Ang pangalan niyan, si Ustadz Or. Hindi ako magkakamali," the source said.
"Ang sabi, doon siya nilibing sa may Barangay Libutan, sa tabi ng mosque...Nakalibot ang mga ano, doon. Mga armado," he said.
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