Mamasapano incident should be put to rest, says Iqbal on reviving probe

From InterAksyon (Sep 15): Mamasapano incident should be put to rest, says Iqbal on reviving probe



Moro Islamic Liberation Front chief negotiator Mohagher Iqbal (L) is seen with Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. (4th L), government chief negotiator Miriam Coronel-Ferrer (2nd L) and several congressmen viewing the BBL exhibit at the House of Representatives Sept. 15, 2015. (Lira Dalangin-Fernandez, InterAksyon.com)

The chief negotiator of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) said the Mamasapano incident should be put to rest following calls to revive investigation following the emergence of fresh details surrounding the death of 67 people, including 44 police Special Action Forces (SAF) men.

"Sa amin, inilibing na namin ang issue ng Mamasapano, matagal na nating pinag-usapan 'yan. Maliban sa hustisya na dapat makuha, hindi na dapat halungkatin iyan kasi masakit iyan, especially sa mga pamilya ng SAF, sa mga namatay (We have buried the Mamasapano issue; we had already discussed it. Aside from justice that must be served, it should not be revived because of the pain, especially for the families of the SAF men who died)," Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) chief negotiator Mohagher Iqbal said in an interview at the House of Representatives.

"Anyway, may report na ang Department of Justice as well as police (Board of Inquiry), may report na sila at meron na rin sa amin, so 'yun na lang ang dapat tingnan natin 'yung reports na nailabas (the DOJ and the police had their report, we had ours, so we should just look at the reports that came out)," he added.

Iqbal said it was "not a wise move" to reopen the investigation, adding that "it would just go nowhere."

The Senate and the House of Representatives have also conducted their separate inquiries, but the latter has yet to release its report four months after it terminated its investigation.

The DOJ is completing its own investigation on the incident, which could include the involvement of several MILF fighters as among those who would be charged in the killing if the SAF men.

Asked to react on the possible involvement of the MILF, Iqbal said, "That's an internal process of government, but so far, I have not seen any official document that MILF members will be part of those on the list who will be charged."

"As far as we are concerned, it's a closed case, I don't think it has any effect on the passage of the BBL (Bangsamoro Basic Law),"  he added.

On the alleged participation of caucasians in the operation, Iqbal said that the MILF report did not find the same information during its investigation.

Iqbal was at the House of Representatives for the opening of the BBL exhibit.

He was joined by Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr., government chief negotiator Miriam Coronel-Ferrer and several congressmen in the exhibit.

The BBL, a product of the comprehensive agreement between the government and the MILF, is still pending at the House and the Senate.

Iqbal said he was positive that the lawmakers will hear their pleas to pass the measure.

Ferrer said having the BBL will give reality to the aspirations of the Bangsamoro people to have peace and progress in the Mindanao region.

Belmonte said he was confident his colleagues will act on the bill.

"However, I trust that my colleagues in this honorable House will never pass a law that is not legally sound or unconstitutional," he said, adding that what should come out of Congress is a law that will be "inclusive enough to integrate the needs and concerns of all stakeholders."

At the House, the BBL is being debated in plenary, but the lack of quorum had delayed its deliberation.

http://www.interaksyon.com/article/117585/mamasapano-incident-should-be-put-to-rest-says-iqbal-on-reviving-probe