MILF denies ‘cannibalizing’ SAF firearms

From GMA News (Feb 20): MILF denies ‘cannibalizing’ SAF firearms

The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) on Friday denied removing expensive accessories and other parts from the firearms of slain police commandos surrendered to the government.

In an interview with GMA News, MILF chief peace negotiator Mohagher Iqbal said his group did not "cannibalize" the weapons of Philippine National Police-Special Action Force (PNP-SAF) members killed in a firefight last January 25.

"As far as I know and the report would show that there is no cannibalizing the firearms," Iqbal said.

He added that some of the firearms' parts may have been dislodged during the encounter in Mamasapano, Maguindanao, last month involving the MILF, the PNP-SAF and the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF).

"Ang nakikita ko lang yung isa kalahati naibigay. Ang tantya ko roon ay tinamaan sa barilan, kaya nga hindi na ma-locate iyon," he said.

A PNP-SAF members who survived the Mamasapano encounter earlier said their weapons, which were formally turned over by the MILF to the government this week, had been stripped off expensive accessories and other parts.

The Mamasapano clash left over 60 people, including 44 police commandos and 18 MILF fighters, dead.

The police commandos supposedly entered an MILF-controlled area to arrest Filipino bomb maker Abdulbasit Usman and Malaysian terrorist Malaysian terrorist Zulkifli bin Hir alias Marwan, who government authorities said was killed in the operation and whose DNA sample was confirmed by the US Federal Bureau of Investigation.

The government and the MILF have an existing peace agreement signed March last year.

Iqbal earlier said MILF members only defended themselves during the incident. He added that government forces did not inform their group about the operation.

'Call is clear'

In Malacañang, deputy presidential spokesperson Usec. Abigail Valte said President Benigno Aquino III gave a clear statement for the MILF on the return the SAF men's firearms and personal effects.

"I think the call was clear and the call was received also clearly by them. We’ll see what will happen in the next few days," Valte said.

She also maintained that the MILF's move to return some of the SAF men's weapons was a good first step in showing sincerity.

Asked if the MILF plans to turnover more of the slain police commando's weapons to the government, Iqbal said his group is still trying to locate the firearms

"If there are firearms that are in the possession of our commanders and our members, we will definitely turn them over to the government," he said.

Valte, for her part, said the administration was just being "practical" in giving the MILF some leeway in terms of surrendering the weapons.

http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/441610/news/nation/milf-denies-cannibalizing-saf-firearms