‘MILF combatants did no wrong’

From the Manila Times (Feb 21): ‘MILF combatants did no wrong’

Muslim rebels maintained that they acted purely in “self-defense” in a clash that killed 44 police commandos in Maguindanao last month, despite police claims that they were ambushed.

The botched anti-terror operation in Mamasapano, Maguindanao province saw the single biggest loss of life of government forces in recent memory and has cast doubt over the peace process, sparking calls for the resignation of President Benigno Aquino 3rd.

The commandos were hunting for one of the world’s most wanted terrorists, Bali bomber and Jemaah Islamiyah militant Zulkifli bin Hir, who initial DNA tests show was killed during the fighting.

While authorities claim police came under ambush by the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) —who occupy the area where Zulkifli is believed to have been hiding—the MILF vice chairman gave a different version of events.

“They (rebels) did not ambush the PNP-SAF (commandos),” Ghazali Jaafar said in an interview with ANC. He said the unannounced police presence gave the rebels the impression that they were under attack.

“The combatants did it in self-defense…. On that basis, they did no wrong,” he said. Civilians who were awakened from their sleep also joined in the fighting, thinking they too were under attack, Jaafar said.

“When a stranger enters your house, and you think your life is in danger, you have to defend yourself,” he added.

Eighteen rebels were also killed during the chaotic 12-hour gun battle.

A finger that police cut from what was believed to be Zulkifli’s body was sent to the FBI where a preliminary DNA test showed a “possible relationship” with one of the militant’s relatives.

The US had offered a $5-million bounty for Zulkifli, a Malaysian bomb-maker who had been hiding in the southern Philippines for over a decade.

Jaafar said the MILF were still conducting an internal probe into the incident.

 The police, military, human rights commission and justice department are also carrying out their own investigations.

http://www.manilatimes.net/milf-combatants-did-no-wrong/164717/