Mamasapano BoI probe: MILF commander among the combatants who engaged the SAF 44

A Moro Islamic Liberation Front commander, who was released from police custody last year because of the peace talks, was named as among the leaders of the armed men that the police Special Action Force engaged in an hours-long firefight in Mamasapano, Maguindanao last January 25.

 

The name of Ustadz Wahid Tundok, commander of the 118th base command of MILF, surfaced at the Board of Inquiry's investigation, according to a report on GMA News' evening newscasts on Wednesday.

 

Tundok was arrested by the PNP-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group and Philippine Marines at a checkpoint in Cotabato City February last year on the strength of a warrant of arrest for multiple murder and arson charges.

 

The 55th Special Action Force (SAF) Company served as the blocking force, but was pinned down by the MILF and the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters and private armed groups.


 

 

The Board of Inquiry also took the account of Police Officer 2 Chris Lalan, a sniper of the 55th SAF Company. He was the lone survivor, as all 35 of his comrades died.

 

Lalan said that during the firefight he ran out of ammunition and hid among the water lilies, but when he surfaced, he was cornered by eight combatants who tried seize his sniper rifle.

 

Lalan said he resisted. Using a knife, he said he was able to kill the eight using the skills he learned from hand to hand combat training as a SAF member.

 

The inquiry board also took the testimony of members of the 84th Seaborne, the assault team of “Operation Wolverine”, who said they were able to kill at least 20 combatants of the BIFF and MILF.

 

The 84th Seaborne said they were able to kill one of their two primary targets, Malaysian terrorist Zulkifli Bin Hir, alias Marwan.  — Kathryn Mae Tubadeza/ELR, GMA News