Tales of brutality in Mamasapano clash

From the Philippine Star posted to ABS-CBN (Jan 28): Tales of brutality in Mamasapano clash

Villagers in Mamasapano, Maguindanao have came forward with stories on how Moro rebels brutally killed Philippine National Police-Special Action Force commandos during an encounter last Sunday.

Some villagers said some of the wounded policemen were mercilessly gunned down as they struggled to escape the rebels.

They said the rebels killed the wounded with gunshots to the head and collected their weapons and other equipment.

Another villager, who asked to be identified only as Hamim, said some rebels even stomped on the heads of the slain policemen before firing shots at them. Some of the locals said the SAF men battled some 300 MILF fighters.

The remains of the SAF members were brought to the mortuary of the Army’s 6th Infantry Division in Camp Siongco in Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao.

Police forensic experts said many of the slain policemen had powder burns in the bullet entry points, indicating they had been shot at close range.

Maguindanao Gov. Esmael Mangudadatu, who was at the 6th ID’s morgue yesterday, condoled with the families of the slain policemen and appealed for sobriety.

“I’m also appealing to people in other parts of the country to help us pray for a peaceful resolution of this incident. We don’t want this to affect the ongoing peace efforts of the Aquino administration and the MILF. The peace process must continue,” Mangudadatu said.

Mangudadatu said he has directed his chief budget staff, Lynette Estandarte, to extend assistance and food provisions to relatives of the slain policemen who are now at Camp Siongco, waiting for the release of their loved ones’ remains.

Major Gen. Edmundo Pangilinan, commander of the 6th ID, said the incident – while tragic – should provide more “pressing reasons” for the government and the MILF to pursue peace.

Pangilinan said tension in Mamasapano has eased and Army units in the area are now helping government agencies in relief activities.

In a statement, Gov. Mujiv Hataman of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) also said the carnage should not derail the peace initiatives by the government and the MILF.

“As always, it’s the civilians that suffer most from the brunt of armed conflicts,” said Hataman.

The MILF leadership yesterday stood pat on its assertion that the “misencounter” was triggered by the failure of the PNP to coordinate the activities of the SAF in the area with the joint ceasefire committee.

The committee is composed of representatives from the MILF, the PNP and the Armed Forces.

http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/regions/01/27/15/tales-brutality-mamasapano-clash