(Updated 9:15 p.m.) Some members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front were found to have committed certain violations for their involvement in the Mamasapano incident that killed more than 60 people including 44 police commandos in late January, MILF chairman Al Haj Murad told GMA News on Thursday.
Murad, however, said that the concerned MILF members would not be surrendered to the government's justice system but would instead be sanctioned under the group's own regulations and Shariah Law.
“We cannot subject our people to the criminal system in the government because gaya ng sabi ko we are still revolutionaries. So we will investigate them as far as mechanism ng provision ng ceasefire agreement," Murad said in a report on "24 Oras."
"Any violation of the ceasefire, then both parties will impose sanctions on their own forces,” he added.
Murad didn't specify the alleged violations of MILF members in the Mamasapano incident.
The MILF has completed its own investigation on the deadly Mamasapano clash where over 60 people, including 44 police Special Action Force (SAF) commandos, were killed. The clash occurred despite the peace deal signed by the government and the MILF in March last year.
The MILF will submit its report to the International Monitoring Team but a copy will also be sent to the government peace panel.
GMA News Online sought the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police for comment but has yet to receive a reply as of posting time.
17 dead from MILF
The results of the MILF investigation indicated that 17 of their members were killed in the hours-long encounter, one less from information previously released.
The probe also covered the killing of a wounded SAF commando, as seen on a video that went viral on the Internet, which Murad said was against the regulations of their group as well as the Islamic Law.
Murad, however, said based on their investigation, the shooter was not a member of the MILF.
“'Yung videong makikita ninyo, it's done very late in the afternoon. Our troops withdrew from the area 2 o'clock in the afternoon. After our withdrawal, mayroong mga ibang armadong grupo na pumasok sa area,” he said.
Murad also said the SAF also committed war crimes when four people sleeping inside a mosque and an eight-year-old child were shot.
First fatalities
He also cited findings that they didn't open fire during the clash, adding that the first fatalities in the incident came from their ranks.
“They (MILF members) were crossing the river, 'yung wooden bridge. Instantly while crossing the river they were fired upon. Instant doon dalawa ang namatay,” he said.
This was contrary to the findings of the PNP Board of Inquiry, which said members of an armed group first shot at the SAF members.
The MILF investigation also said that the clash happened in close distance, explaining why some SAF officers were shot in close range.
Dead bodies as shields?
As to why some SAF fatalities had multiple gunshot wounds, Murad said their investigation found out that the bodies were used as shield by their fellow SAF members during the clash.
“'Yung mga namatay sa SAF parang ginamit 'yung mga kasaman na buhay pa na parang covering. Doon sila nagtatago while there was an exchange of fire kaya 'yung patay na, tinatamaan pa rin because nagagamit na parang shield,” he said.
This was, however, denied by a SAF survivor, who said there was no need for them to use their fallen comrades as shields since they were all wearing bulletproof vests.
http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/455429/news/nation/milf-members-face-sanctions-but-won-t-be-surrendered-to-govt-murad
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