PNP counters MILF, says ‘Exodus’ part of police madate

From the Daily Tribune (Sep 28): PNP counters MILF, says ‘Exodus’ part of police madate

The Philippine National Police (PNP) yesterday maintained that the launching of Oplan “Exodus” in Mamasapano, Maguindanao province last January was part of the mandate of the organization to arrest wanted personalities.

Reacting to statements issued by the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) blaming the Mamasapano incident on the non-passage of its proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL), Chief Supt. Wilben Mayor, PNP spokesman, stressed Oplan “Exodus” was a legitimate law enforcement operation.

Mayor said elements of the PNP’s elite Special Action Force (SAF) were deployed to arrest Malaysian terrorist Zulkifli bin Hir, alias Marwan, who was wanted for various crimes.

“The mission of the SAF in Mamasapano is to enforce the warrant of arrest against Marwan who is wanted by law for his crimes as part of the mandate of the PNP to enforce the law and maintain peace and order,” the police official said.

Hundreds of SAF troops were dispatched to barangays Pedsandawan and Tukanalipao last January 25 to arrest Marwan, his fellow Malaysian terrorist Amin Baco, alias Jihad, and Filipino bomb expert Basit Usman. The operation sparked a day-long clash between the SAF commandos and combined MILF, Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) and private armed groups in the area.

As a result, 44 SAF commandos and 16 MILF fighters were killed during the clashes.
Marwan was also killed but Baco and Usman managed to elude the SAF.

In an editorial posted on its Website, the MILF blamed the Mamasapano operation for the stalled BBL.

The MILF expressed belief that the operation was deliberately launched and was not accidental.

“If in the end, the BBL does not pass, who is going to be blamed or do we need to blame anyone? Of course, many people blamed the Mamasapano incident on January 25. But this incident was not an accident; it had all the signatures of a deliberate plan,” the MILF stressed.

“The debate as to which is primary, peace-making or ‘war on terror’ showed its ugly face here. While we never doubted that the government has firmly hold on to the “primacy of the peace process” but that fateful moment the “unanticipated” happened. To this day, we are still reeling from its devastating effects,” it added.

For its part, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) stressed its full support to the government peace initiatives.

“The AFP has always been in support to all government peace efforts,” said Col. Noel Detoyato.

 

http://www.tribune.net.ph/headlines/pnp-counters-milf-says-exodus-part-of-police-madate