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MILF exec counters Napeñas’ claim of 250 rebels killed in Mamasapano clash


The Moro Islamic Liberation Front stood firm on its earlier statement that fewer than 20 of its members were killed in a firefight with the Philippine National Police-Special Action Force in Mamasapano, Maguindanao on January 25.

"18 ang patay at 14 [ang] wounded sa MILF," MILF chief peace negotiator Mohagher Iqbal said in a text message to GMA News Online on Monday.

At the Senate hearing on the operation, relieved SAF chief Director Getulio Napeñas claimed that at least 250 members of the MILF, the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters, and private armed groups were killed in the clash.

The PNP-SAF had been in the area to arrest terrorists Zulkifli bin Hir, alias Marwan, and Abdul Basit Usman.

Napeñas' said the PNP's estimate is based on the statements of two SAF men who survived the firefight.

Moreover, he said that the the assault team (the 84th Seabourne) and the blocking force (the 55th Company) that took part in Oplan Exodus had two and six snipers, respectively.

Iqbal said that if the estimate and these statements were true, then the rebels were the ones who were "massacred."

"We can't locate their graves. 'Pag totoo 'yan, kami ang na-massacre," he said.

On Sunday, MILF vice chairman for political affairs Ghadzali Jaafar said that the deaths of the 44 policemen did not constitute a massacre, as both sides had been armed. — BM, GMA News

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