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Palace: MILF’s return of SAF 44’s weapons a sign of trust, but not enough
A good sign, but not enough.
A Palace official on Wednesday said the Moro Islamic Liberation Front’s decision to return some of the weapons of the slain PNP-Special Action Force commandos is one way to build the trust President Benigno Aquino III wants from them, in order for the peace process to move forward.
A Palace official on Wednesday said the Moro Islamic Liberation Front’s decision to return some of the weapons of the slain PNP-Special Action Force commandos is one way to build the trust President Benigno Aquino III wants from them, in order for the peace process to move forward.
“Ang pagsauli ng mga armas ay bahagyang tumutugon sa naunang panawagan ni Pangulong Aquino na magpakita ng kongkretong katibayan ang MILF na sila ay maaaring pagkatiwalaan bilang katuwang ng pamahalaan sa prosesong pangkapayapaan,” Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said at a press briefing.
However, Coloma said that while the return of the firearms is a start, the MILF still needs to do at least three things to convince the governemnt that it is really for peace.
Included in the Aquino administration’s checklist is the MILF’s cooperation in terms of apprehending Basit Usman, the other high-value target in the Mamasapano operation; the identification of those involved in the deaths of the SAF 44; and the return of other items and personal belongings of the fallen policemen.
“Hinihintay pa ng pamahalaan ang mas kongkretong patunay tulad ng mga sumusunod: ang pagtulong o ‘di pagharang sa pagtugis at pagpapanagot kay Basit Usman; ang pagkilala at pagpapanagot sa mga sangkot sa pagpaslang sa mga bayaning SAF44 at ang pagsauli ng lahat ng iba pang armas at kagamitan na inagaw mula sa sa SAF 44,” Coloma said.
In his speeches regarding the Mamasapano incident which led to the death of 44 elite cops, Aquino himself noted that the MILF has to prove that they, too, are willing to work for lastling peace in Mindanao.
At least 16 high-powered firearms taken from the PNP-SAF commandos killed in an encounter with MILF and BIFF forces in Mamasapano on January 25 are inspected by SAF personnel and members of the International Monitoring Team after the items were turned over by the MILF to the authorities on Wednesday, February 18. Raffy Tima
Returned firearms
In his speeches regarding the Mamasapano incident which led to the death of 44 elite cops, Aquino himself noted that the MILF has to prove that they, too, are willing to work for lastling peace in Mindanao.
At least 16 high-powered firearms taken from the PNP-SAF commandos killed in an encounter with MILF and BIFF forces in Mamasapano on January 25 are inspected by SAF personnel and members of the International Monitoring Team after the items were turned over by the MILF to the authorities on Wednesday, February 18. Raffy Tima
Returned firearms
Earlier in the day, 16 firearms of the elite police commandos killed the Jan. 25 clash in Mamasapano, Maguindanao were returned by the MILF.
Included in the returned firearms were two machine guns and an M-4 rifle with optics, laser designator and tactical flashlight. The PNP-SAF had lost about 63 firearms during the Mamasapano operation.
The weapons will then be tested, inventoried and sealed before they are turned over to the Philippine National Police, government peace negotiator Miriam Coronel-Ferrer said.
Included in the returned firearms were two machine guns and an M-4 rifle with optics, laser designator and tactical flashlight. The PNP-SAF had lost about 63 firearms during the Mamasapano operation.
The weapons will then be tested, inventoried and sealed before they are turned over to the Philippine National Police, government peace negotiator Miriam Coronel-Ferrer said.
For his part, MILF peace panel chairman Mohagher Iqbal said the return of the firearms shows the MILF "is willing to travel the extra mile" for peace.
"We are willing to travel the extra mile just to ensure the peace process will proceed," he said, but also asked media to be objective.
At the same time, Iqbal said they will continue checking for other firearms and equipment of the slain SAF men in the MILF's possession. — RSJ, GMA News
