At least 13 commanders of the MILF and the BIFF are required to appear during the first preliminary investigation hearing on November 11
At least 13
commanders of the Moro Islamic Liberal Front (MILF) and 6 commanders of its
breakaway group, the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF), are being
summoned by the Department of Justice (DOJ) over the deaths of 35 elite cops.
According to Prosecutor
General Claro Arellano, the DOJ issued subpoenas against the MILF and BIFF
commanders to attend the first preliminary investigation hearing set on
November 11.
The commanders
are tagged in the deaths of 35 members of the Philippine National Police
(PNP)’s Special Action Force (SAF) during an January 25, 2015 operation against
Malaysian bomb maker Zulkifli bin Hir alias “Marwan” and Filipino Abdul Basit
Usman.
A joint panel
composed of the National Bureau of Investigation-National Prosecution Service
(NBI-NPS) earlier filed
cases against some 90 fighters from the MILF, BIFF, and private
armed groups in relation to the deaths of SAF troopers on the fields of
Tukanalipao in Mamasapano, Maguindanao.
The 71 others
being charged were also summoned for the preliminary investigation, said
Arellano, who also declined to give the names of those subpoenaed.
All of the 90
charged by the NBI-NPS panel faced 35 counts of direct assault with murder.
In the wee hours
of January 25, close to 400 SAF troopers entered Mamasapano in Maguindanao as
part of “Oplan Exodus,” an operation against Marwan and Usman. After Marwan was
killed and Usman escapred, two SAF companies – the 55th Special Action Company
(SAC) and the elite Seaborne Company – were caught in the crossfire as they
were trying to retreat.
Thirty-five from
the 55th SAC died while 9 from the Seaborne perished during the operation. Some
4 civilians and 17 MILF fighters were also slain during the hours-long
encounter.
The bloody
Mamasapano encounter has also endangered the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law, the
product of years of negotiations between the government the MILF.
http://www.rappler.com/nation/110987-doj-summons-milf-biff-hearing-saf-deaths
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