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MILF respects Senate Mamasapano report, but insists on independent probe
By FERDINANDH CABRERA
COTABATO CITY – The chief peace negotiator of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front on Wednesday said that while they respect the Senate report on the bloody Mamasapano clash, they would rather have an independent group to look into the incident which left over 60 people dead.
At the same time, Mohagher Iqbal insisted that the MILF fighters involved in the clash acted on their own and without the approval of the MILF leadership.
“We respect the results of the Senate investigation but we maintain our position that there should be an independent group which will conduct an impartial and objective probe,” Iqbal said.
A total of 44 elite police commandos, 18 MILF fighters and five civilians were killed during the clash.
At the time, the police commandos were out to serve an arrest warrant against two high value targets. Suspected Malaysian terrorist Zulkifli bin Hir (Marwan) was killed although Filipino bomb-maker Abdul Basit Usman was able to escape.
At the same time, Mohagher Iqbal insisted that the MILF fighters involved in the clash acted on their own and without the approval of the MILF leadership.
“We respect the results of the Senate investigation but we maintain our position that there should be an independent group which will conduct an impartial and objective probe,” Iqbal said.
A total of 44 elite police commandos, 18 MILF fighters and five civilians were killed during the clash.
At the time, the police commandos were out to serve an arrest warrant against two high value targets. Suspected Malaysian terrorist Zulkifli bin Hir (Marwan) was killed although Filipino bomb-maker Abdul Basit Usman was able to escape.
Among the findings mentioned in the Senate report is that the MILF, the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters and other armed groups murdered and robbed the PNP Special Action Force personnel.
The Senate recommended that charges of murder, frustrated murder and robbery be filed against those responsible for the massacre.
The Senate recommended that charges of murder, frustrated murder and robbery be filed against those responsible for the massacre.
But in maintaining that the MILF combatants acted on their own, Iqbal said it was human nature for anyone to react violently if violence is brought to his backyard. The MILF has refused to identify its fighters who engaged the police commandos.
Iqbal and other MILF officials attended the Senate inquiry in aid of legislation during which he stressed the MILF fighters did not fire the first shot in observance of the existing ceasefire agreement with the government.
The MILF earlier said it will submit its report on the Mamasapano incident to Malaysia, which acts as the facilitator in the ongoing peace negotiations. — RSJ/KG, GMA News
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