MILF commander blames BIFF for Mamasapano atrocities

(Updated 9:11 a.m., Feb. 3) The ill-fated team of PNP-Special Action Force troopers that figured in the Mamasapano clash on Jan. 25 actually faced three armed groups—the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, its breakaway group Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters, and a private armed group, an MILF commander has told GMA News.

In an exclusive report on "24 Oras" on Monday, an unidentified MILF official said it was the BIFF that attacked the SAF in cold blood, even shooting two policemen who already had their hands up in surrender. 

 

"Nakita ko mismo sa mata ko. May dalawa pa na buhay... Nakita namin na mag-surrender na talaga 'yung dalawa. Hindi nila pinakinggan. Binaril nila," he said. 

 

The MILF commander said some members of the BIFF went close to some SAF policemen in the cornfield and shot them on the head using an improvised barret, much like a .50 caliber machine gun. Its bullets are twice as big as those of M16 and M14 rifle bullets.

 

"'Yung ilan doon sa maisan na basag 'yung ulo, 'yun ang binaril pa ng barret. Nilapitan at binaril ng barret, .50 caliber," he added. 

 

After the firefight, some members of the BIFF reportedly started looting from the SAF commandos. The clash left 44 policemen dead and 12 injured.

 

Security in Mindanao 

 

Now that the authorities are claiming that Malaysian terrorist and bomb maker Zulkifli bin Hir alias Marwan died during the operation, the military is preparing for retaliation from his wards.

Marwan was the target of the Philippine National Police operation. 

 

While the Armed Forces of the Philippines insisted that it did not have any solid intelligence information on future bombings in Mindanao, members of the 6th Infantry Division in Maguindanao continued their training. 

 

The Army also doubled the number of its checkpoints in Maguindanao.
 

"Everytime na may namamatay sa kanila after an operation, they retaliate. We're on top of the situation. Tuluy-tuloy po ang pagmo-monitor namin," 6th ID spokesperson Capt. Jo-anne Petinglay said.

AFP to cooperate with probe body


Interior Secretary Mar Roxas said the police Board of Inquiry's probe on the Mamasapano clash that killed 44 elite police commandos will be "transparent and truthful."

The BOI has already documented nearly 300 eyewitness accounts from government troops and civilians, Director Benjamin Magalong, the chief of the PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, said in a statement Monday.