MILF response to DOJ report dictated by protocols with the GPH – Iqbal

From GMA News (Apr 24): MILF response to DOJ report dictated by protocols with the GPH – Iqbal

Moro Islamic Liberation Front chief peace negotiator Mohagher Iqbal said on Thursday that because the MILF's relationship with the Philippine Government was political in nature and not a legal one, the MILF did not automatically have to obey the Justice Department's recommendations in its report on the Mamasapano clash.

“We do recognize that there is an internal legal process of government, and this [the DOJ's investigation into the Mamasapano clash] was one of their legal processes conducted by the Government through the Department of Justice,” Iqbal told GMA News Online on Thursday.

“But as far as the MILF is concerned our relationship with the government is political and we are bound by signed protocols between the government and the MILF.”

The DOJ report had recommended the filing of murder and theft charges against some 90 MILF fighters, BIFF gunmen, and private armed group members.

“It's not a simple question whether we surrender our forces to government or we do not surrender,” Iqbal explained. “Human nature dictates that if you are under attack then the first thing you do is you need to defend yourself.”

Iqbal also said both the MILF and the Government, along with other neutral parties including the International Monitoring Team attempted to put an early stop to the Mamasapano clash. “They were trying really to stop the fighting but it was so difficult to stop because so many had been killed already. It's not simply a case of stopping it outright. Its very difficult,” he added.

Nevertheless, Iqbal said the MILF would study the DOJ report and check with the Philippine Government on ways to settle things in a way beneficial to both parties.

“We are looking at the whole incident and it's political implications since our engagement with Government is political then as far as that report is concerned we would try to discuss that with our counterpart in Government.”

http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/475378/news/nation/milf-response-to-doj-report-dictated-by-protocols-with-the-gph-iqbal