Iqbal: MILF did not know presence of Marwan, Usman

By ROSE-AN JESSICA DIOQUINO, GMA News

Published February 12, 2015 11:04am

(Updated 11:49 a.m.) Moro Islamic Liberation Front chief peace negotiator Mohagher Iqbal on Thursday maintained that they did not know that wanted international terrorist Zulkifli bin Hir (Marwan) and bomb-maker Abdul Basit Usman were in their area in Mamasapano, Maguindanao.

"Hindi ho namin alam na nandoon si Basit Usman at nandoon si Marwan," Iqbal replied when asked by Sen. Miriam Defensor Santiago if they can say "with a straight face that you and the MILF did not know" that Marwan and Usman "were operating in the MILF sphere of control."

Asked why the two high-value targets "felt safe" in the MILF or BIFF territory, and why the MILF did not interfere even if Marwan and Usman were just in an "adjacent territory," Iqbal said: "Sa community, karamihan doon po ay sibilyan ang mga nakatira doon."

"In a civilian community, you cannot compartmentalize the people, and then that granted na nandoon si Basit Usman, nagtatago [siya]," he added.

Despite his reply, Santiago said the MILF's "failure to convey vital information to your negotiation is an abject sign of bad faith."

"No wonder there are now doubts [on] social media, widespread in scope, about the sincerity of the MILF," she added.

Authorities claimed killing Marwan in the operation, but Usman was able to escape. However, a total of 44 PNP-Special Action Force personnel were killed during the encounter with combatants from the MILF and its splinter group, the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Figthers.

'Yes, we will help'

At the hearing, Iqbal stressed that the MILF is bound by the mechanisms they entered into as part of the peace agreement, including the Ad Hoc Joint Action Group (AHJAG), a coordinative body formed "to effect the apprehension and arrest of the suspected criminal elements" within the group's areas.

However, Santiago countered: "This is answerable by a yes or a no: Are you willing to help the government to chase after Usman and other terrorists?"

Iqbal responded: "Yes, we will help."

The MILF earlier said it has reminded its base commanders to arrest terrorists and criminals who will enter their territory, in line with their compliance as part of the AHJAG.

In an earlier interview with GMA News Online, Iqbal said, "Standing order na 'yon."

'Misencounter'

Iqbal was further grilled by Santiago when he brought up the term "misencounter" in his response as to why the MILF joined the firefight.

The term has been used by both government and the MILF to describe what happened at Mamasapano on January 25.

"I use the word misencounter because there was no intention on the part of the MILF to fight the SAF, and in fairness to the SAF, I don't think there was an intention to fight the MILF," Iqbal said.

This prompted Santiago to ask, "Is there such a word in the dictionary? Misencounter?"

"No such word," the senator insisted.

Iqbal went on that the firefight began "at the darkest part of the night, alas kwatro po, madaling araw po 'yon."

"Madilim po kaya hindi nagkakakilala sa corn field, nagkabanghan. According to the initial report sent to us, ang distance ng MILF at SAF forces was about five to six meters apart," he said.

Asked how come the shooting lasted for nearly 12 hours, Iqbal replied: "Alam po niyo, in both sides, MILF at SAF, ang armas po nila malalakas," making an analogy about how boxers are difficult to separate at a fight.

Raising her voice, Santiago said: "Sabihin niyo ho 'yan sa pamilya ng kwarenta'y kwartrong namatay."

While trying to explain, Iqbal was cut him off again, and was asked if the MILF is willing to turn over its combatants involved in the clash.

"We are conducting official investigation on the part of the MILF," Iqbal replied. — RSJ, GMA News

Tags: mohagheriqbal, milf, mamasapanoclash, biff, pnpsaf